Adding Godot Plugin to use libgoethe Description

[toymak3r]

Description

We need to create a Godot plugin that integrates the Goethe Dialog System library to provide a seamless dialog management experience for Godot developers working on visual novels and interactive narratives.

Background

The Goethe Dialog System is a modern C++ library that provides:

• Dual YAML formats: Support for both simple and advanced GOETHE dialog formats
• C and C++ APIs: Clean interfaces for integration
• Character dialog management: Support for character names, expressions, moods, portraits, and voice
• Conditional logic: Advanced condition system with flags, variables, and quest states
• Effect system: Comprehensive effect system for game state changes
• Compression system: Multiple compression backends with automatic selection
• Statistics tracking: Real-time performance monitoring and analysis

Requirements

Core Features

• GDScript Bindings: Create GDScript bindings for the C API (goethe_dialog.h)
• YAML Integration: Support for loading/saving dialog files in both simple and advanced GOETHE formats
• Dialog Management: High-level dialog management with character support, expressions, and voice
• Condition System: Integration with Godot's autoload system for flags, variables, and quest states
• Effect System: Hook into Godot's signal system for game state changes

Plugin Structure

addons/goethe_dialog/
├── plugin.gd                    # Main plugin script
├── goethe_dialog.gdextension    # GDExtension configuration
├── src/
│   ├── goethe_dialog.cpp        # C++ bindings implementation
│   ├── goethe_dialog.h          # Header for bindings
│   └── register_types.cpp       # Type registration
├── scenes/
│   ├── dialog_manager.tscn      # Dialog manager scene
│   └── dialog_ui.tscn          # Default dialog UI
├── scripts/
│   ├── dialog_manager.gd        # High-level dialog management
│   ├── dialog_node.gd           # Individual dialog node
│   ├── character.gd             # Character management
│   └── condition_system.gd      # Condition evaluation
└── examples/
    ├── basic_dialog/            # Basic dialog example
    └── visual_novel/            # Full visual novel example

Technical Requirements

• GDExtension: Use Godot 4.x GDExtension system for C++ integration
• Cross-platform: Support Windows, Linux, and macOS
• Dependency Management: Handle libgoethe dependencies (yaml-cpp, zstd)
• Build System: CMake integration for building the extension
• Error Handling: Proper error reporting to GDScript

User Experience

• Editor Integration: Custom editor tools for dialog creation and editing
• Inspector Support: Custom property editors for dialog nodes
• Resource System: Integration with Godot's resource system
• Undo/Redo: Support for editor undo/redo operations
• Documentation: Comprehensive documentation and examples

Implementation Plan

Phase 1: Core Integration

1. Set up GDExtension project structure
2. Create basic C++ bindings for goethe_dialog.h
3. Implement dialog loading/saving functionality
4. Create basic GDScript wrapper classes

Phase 2: Advanced Features

1. Implement condition system integration
2. Add effect system with Godot signals
3. Create character management system
4. Add compression and statistics support

Phase 3: Editor Tools

1. Create custom dialog editor
2. Add inspector property editors
3. Implement undo/redo support
4. Create example projects

Phase 4: Documentation & Polish

1. Write comprehensive documentation
2. Create tutorial videos
3. Add unit tests
4. Performance optimization

Technical Considerations

GDExtension Setup

• Use Godot 4.x GDExtension API
• Implement proper memory management
• Handle string conversions between C and GDScript
• Provide proper error handling and reporting

Dependency Management

• Bundle libgoethe as a submodule or include source
• Handle yaml-cpp and zstd dependencies
• Ensure cross-platform compatibility
• Provide fallback options for missing dependencies

Performance

• Minimize C++/GDScript boundary crossings
• Use efficient data structures for dialog storage
• Implement caching for frequently accessed data
• Provide performance monitoring through statistics system

Acceptance Criteria

• Plugin can be installed and enabled in Godot 4.x
• Basic dialog loading/saving works with both YAML formats
• Character dialog with expressions and voice is supported
• Condition system integrates with Godot autoloads
• Effect system triggers appropriate Godot signals
• Editor tools provide intuitive dialog creation experience
• Documentation covers all major features
• Example projects demonstrate proper usage
• Plugin works on all supported platforms (Windows, Linux, macOS)

Additional Notes

• Consider creating a separate repository for the Godot plugin
• Ensure compatibility with both Godot 4.0+ and 4.1+
• Plan for future Godot 5.x compatibility
• Consider creating a marketplace asset for easier distribution
• Include performance benchmarks and optimization guidelines

Related Documentation

• Goethe Dialog System README
• Architecture Documentation
• C API Reference
• YAML Schema