Extract Data to Resources

Core Principle

Data belongs in resources, not code. Hardcoded values make iteration slow and error-prone.

What This Skill Does

Finds patterns like:

# enemy.gd
const ENEMY_DATA = {
    "goblin": {"health": 50, "speed": 100, "damage": 10},
    "orc": {"health": 100, "speed": 80, "damage": 20},
    "dragon": {"health": 500, "speed": 150, "damage": 50}
}

Transforms to:

# enemy_stats.gd
class_name EnemyStats
extends Resource

@export var enemy_name: String
@export var health: int
@export var speed: float
@export var damage: int

Creates resource files:

• resources/enemies/goblin.tres
• resources/enemies/orc.tres
• resources/enemies/dragon.tres

Updates code:

# enemy.gd
@export var stats: EnemyStats

func _ready():
    health = stats.health
    speed = stats.speed
    damage = stats.damage

Detection Patterns

Identifies:

• const arrays with data structures
• Dictionaries with game data
• Embedded configuration values
• Hardcoded stats, properties, settings
• Switch statements on type strings

When to Use

You're Building Data-Heavy Games

Games with many items, enemies, levels, or configurations.

You're Iterating on Balance

Want to tweak values quickly without code changes.

You're Working with Designers

Non-programmers need to edit game data.

You're Adding Moddability

External data files enable modding support.

Process

1. Scan - Find const arrays, dictionaries with structured data
2. Analyze - Identify data schema and relationships
3. Define - Create Resource class definitions
4. Extract - Generate .tres files with data
5. Update - Modify code to load resources
6. Validate - Ensure data loads correctly
7. Commit - Git commit per resource type

Example Transformation

Before (Hardcoded Data):

# item_manager.gd
const ITEMS = [
    {
        "id": "health_potion",
        "name": "Health Potion",
        "description": "Restores 50 HP",
        "heal_amount": 50,
        "icon": "res://icons/potion.png"
    },
    {
        "id": "sword",
        "name": "Iron Sword",
        "description": "A basic sword",
        "damage": 15,
        "icon": "res://icons/sword.png"
    }
]

func get_item(id: String):
    for item in ITEMS:
        if item.id == id:
            return item
    return null

After (Resource-Based):

# item_data.gd
class_name ItemData
extends Resource

@export var id: String
@export var item_name: String
@export_multiline var description: String
@export var icon: Texture2D
@export_group("Stats")
@export var heal_amount: int
@export var damage: int

# item_manager.gd
@export var items: Array[ItemData]

func get_item(id: String) -> ItemData:
    for item in items:
        if item.id == id:
            return item
    return null

Created Files:

• resources/items/health_potion.tres
• resources/items/iron_sword.tres

Resource Patterns

Simple Resources

Single values (stats, settings, constants).

Composite Resources

Resources referencing other resources (weapon + stats + effects).

Resource Libraries

Arrays of resources for different categories.

Resource Inheritance

Base resource class with specialized variants.

What Gets Created

• Resource class definitions in resources/ or scripts/resources/
• .tres files in organized directory structure
• Updated code using @export var resource: ResourceType
• Documentation of resource schema
• Git commits per resource extraction

Smart Analysis

Identifies data types:

• Configuration - Settings, constants, tuning values
• Content - Items, enemies, levels, abilities
• Behavior - AI patterns, state machines, rules

Organizes by category:

• resources/items/ - Item data
• resources/enemies/ - Enemy stats
• resources/levels/ - Level configurations
• resources/abilities/ - Ability definitions

Integration

Works with:

• godot-extract-to-scenes - Scenes reference resources
• godot-split-scripts - Resources reduce script size
• godot-refactor (orchestrator) - Runs as part of full refactoring

Safety

• Data preserved exactly during extraction
• Validation ensures resources load correctly
• Rollback on validation failure
• Original data preserved in git history

When NOT to Use

Don't extract if:

• Data is truly constant (math constants, engine limits)
• Data changes at runtime (calculated values)
• Data is temporary state (not configuration)
• Extraction makes code more complex

Examples of valid hardcoded data:

• const PI = 3.14159
• const MAX_PLAYERS = 4 (engine limitation)
• Calculated values based on other data

Resource Organization

resources/
├── items/
│   ├── consumables/
│   │   ├── health_potion.tres
│   │   └── mana_potion.tres
│   └── weapons/
│       ├── iron_sword.tres
│       └── steel_axe.tres
├── enemies/
│   ├── goblin.tres
│   ├── orc.tres
│   └── dragon.tres
└── levels/
    ├── level_1.tres
    └── level_2.tres

Benefits

• Rapid iteration - Change data without recompiling
• Designer-friendly - Edit values in Godot inspector
• Type safety - @export provides validation and autocomplete
• Moddability - External .tres files can be modified
• Version control - Data changes tracked separately from code
• Hot reload - Godot reloads resource changes automatically

Common Transformations

Resource Types

Built-in Resources

• Texture2D, Material, AudioStream
• Animation, Curve, Gradient
• Theme, StyleBox, Font

Custom Resources

• EnemyStats, ItemData, LevelConfig
• AbilityDefinition, QuestData
• Any game-specific data structure

Resource Collections

• Array[ItemData] for item databases
• Dictionary for lookup tables
• Resource library scenes