godot-nodes-scenes

Godot Nodes & Scenes (4.x)

Compose games from nodes and scenes, instance them at runtime, and access the tree without crashing on freed or missing nodes. Targets Godot 4.7.

When to use

• Use when structuring .tscn scenes, choosing how to break a feature into nodes, instancing a PackedScene (bullets, enemies, UI), or setting up autoload singletons.
• Use when debugging get_node() / $Path returning null, or "Attempt to call on a previously freed instance".

When not to use: GDScript language/syntax → godot-gdscript; signal-based decoupling → godot-signals-groups; physics bodies/collisions → godot-physics.

Core workflow

1. Model with composition. A scene is a tree of nodes saved as .tscn. Build small, single-purpose scenes (Player, Bullet, Enemy) and compose larger scenes from them. Favor adding child nodes over deep inheritance.
2. Make a scene reusable by giving its root a script and exposing @export config. Save it; it becomes a PackedScene you can instance many times.
3. Instance at runtime with preload/load → scene.instantiate() → add_child(instance). Set position/state after adding (or before, both work).
4. Access nodes safely. Use @onready var x = $Path for fixed children; use unique names (%Name) for nodes deep in the tree; never assume a node still exists.
5. Use autoloads for global state/services (game state, audio, scene switching) — registered in Project Settings > Globals (Autoload), accessible by name everywhere.
6. Free nodes with queue_free() and guard later access with is_instance_valid().

Patterns

1. Instance a scene at runtime

extends Node2D

const BULLET := preload("res://bullet.tscn")   # preload: loaded at compile time

func shoot(at: Vector2, dir: Vector2) -> void:
    var bullet := BULLET.instantiate()         # create an instance of the scene
    bullet.global_position = at
    bullet.direction = dir                      # set exported/public state
    add_child(bullet)                           # now it's in the tree and runs