GECS - Godot Entity Component SystemA lightweight and performant ECS framework that integrates seamlessly with Godot 4.x, built to leverage Godot’s node system. It supports:- Full integration with Godot’s node system- Query-based filtering of entities with optimized component indexing- System groups for organized processing- Component resources that work in the editor- Straightforward setup with automatic node management- Clear examples (Zombies Ate My Neighbors, a 2D Breakout clone)OVERVIEWGECS follows the Entity Component System (ECS) pattern:- Entity: A container (a node extending Entity) representing an object.- Component: A data container resource (extends Component) with properties but no logic.- System: A node (extends System) that defines a query for relevant entities and the logic to run on them.- World: A central node (extends World) that manages entities and systems.FEATURES- Components: Simple resources, easy to edit in the Godot inspector.- Entities: Node scenes that extend Entity and automatically synchronize component data.- Systems: Nodes that define queries (for example using with\_all, with\_any) and process matching entities.- System Groups: Specify a group name such as "physics" or "gameplay" to organize and process systems at different times.- ECS Singleton: Global access to your current World, allowing you to call ECS.process(delta, group).- Relationship Support: Use relationships as specialized resources to link entities.- Advanced Queries: Use with\_relationship, with\_reverse\_relationship, and various conditions to refine your entity matching.WHY USE GECS- Improved code organization and maintainability- Clean separation of data (components) and logic (systems)- Intuitive queries for selecting and managing entities- Works naturally with Godot’s scene and node structureGETTING STARTED1. Place the GECS addon in your project’s addons folder.2. Enable the plugin in Project Settings > Plugins.3. Ensure ECS.gd is autoloaded (done automatically when enabling the plugin).4. Create your own entities, components, and systems.5. Place a World node, attach your systems and entities, then call ECS.process(delta, group) as needed.SIMPLE STEPS- Create Components, for example Velocity or Bounce, each with exported properties.- Create Entities, adding the desired components in the inspector.- Create Systems, define queries such as with\_all, and implement the logic.- Add Systems to your World node, optionally setting a group.- Process them via ECS.process(delta, "group\_name").USE CASES- 2D and 3D games needing modular and scalable code- Clean separation of concerns in larger projects- Editor-based design of components without heavy scripting- Simplified debugging of component dataSPECIAL FEATURES- Relationship-based queries for advanced linking of entities- System groups for controlling update order- Resource-based components that can be instanced or shared- Editor support for exporting component propertiesCONCLUSIONGECS streamlines development with a concise Entity Component System approach that fits naturally into Godot’s node structure. Build maintainable, modular games with flexible queries, reusable data containers, and powerful system organization.
