prefab-architecture

Prefab Architecture

Provides decision frameworks and implementation patterns for structuring Unity prefabs — from simple base prefabs to variant hierarchies, nested prefab strategies, and ScriptableObject configs as a data-only alternative to deep variant chains.

When to Apply

Activate when the conversation involves:

• Deciding whether to create a new base prefab, a prefab variant, or a ScriptableObject config
• Structuring nested prefabs — which child objects should be independent prefabs vs. baked in
• Managing prefab overrides: what to override, how many, and where to document them
• Choosing between a prefab variant family and a single prefab + multiple config SO assets
• Prefab editing workflows: when to open in Prefab Mode vs. edit in scene context
• Preventing override conflicts in deep variant chains
• Auditing orphaned or stale prefab references in the project

Do NOT activate for the physical act of placing and arranging objects inside a scene — that goes to hades:scene-authoring. Do NOT activate for animation state machine authoring — that goes to hades:animation-workflow.

Project Context Check

Before making recommendations, gather current project state:

1. Check existing prefab patterns:

   • Call graph_query(edgeKind: "references", edgeTargetPath: "<path/to/Component.cs>") to discover how similar objects are currently structured — e.g. the path for EnemyController (resolve it with search_by_name first if you only have the class name) before designing a new enemy variant
   • Call search_by_name("*.prefab") for a broad inventory of prefab assets; look for naming conventions (Base_, Variant_, NPC_, etc.)
   • Call trace_dependencies("<PrefabName>") on a candidate base prefab to see what scenes and other prefabs reference it — changes to a heavily-referenced base have wide blast radius

2. Check team decisions in memory:

   • Call recall_memory("prefab architecture variant") to find documented prefab strategy
   • Call recall_memory("scriptable object config pattern") to find whether SO configs are already in use
   • If a recalled decision shows warning, surface the conflict to the user before proceeding