`GlobalBaseClass`

source: GlobalBaseClass.gd

GlobalBaseClass (GBC) defines the required signals, member variables, and methods that any class must implement to be compatible with the global ClassList and ObjectDB. It acts as a structural interface — GDScript does not have a native interface or trait system, so GlobalBaseClass serves as the closest equivalent: a concrete base class that defines the expected contract. Any class intended to participate in the GBC ecosystem must either extend GlobalBaseClass directly or implement the same structure and method signatures.

A GBC-compatible class is not required to extend this specific class. It may extend any built-in Godot class (e.g. Node, RefCounted) as long as it implements all signals, variables, and methods defined here with matching signatures.

Signals

`name_changed`

Args: null
Emitted when the user-defined name of this object changes.

`delete_requested`

Args: null
Emitted when this object is to be freed from memory. Any other script holding a reference to this object must listen for this signal and de-reference it accordingly.

Public API

`_init`

Args:

String: p_uuid = UUID.v4()
Variant: ...p_args

Returns: void

Initialises the object with the given UUID and sets the class name to "GlobalBaseClass". If no UUID is provided, one is generated automatically. The variadic ...p_args parameter exists solely to satisfy GDScript’s constructor signature matching requirement — subclasses may accept additional optional arguments in their own _init without causing a compile error.

`get_uname`

Args: null
Returns: String

Returns the user-defined name of this object.

`get_uuid`

Args: null
Returns: String

Returns the UUID of this object.

`get_class_name`

Args: null
Returns: String

Returns the class name of this object as set during initialisation.

`get_base_class`

Args: null
Returns: String

Returns the name of the root class in this object’s inheritance tree — the last entry in the class tree array.

`get_class_tree`

Args: null
Returns: Array[String]

Returns a copy of the full inheritance tree for this object. Each class in the hierarchy appends its name to this array during _init via _set_class_name.

`get_settings`

Args: null
Returns: SettingsManager

Returns the SettingsManager instance associated with this object.

`set_uname`

Args:

String: p_name
bool: p_no_signal = false

Returns: void

Sets the user-defined name of this object. Emits name_changed unless p_no_signal is true.

`delete`

Args: null
Returns: void

Emits delete_requested to signal that this object should be freed. Does not free the object itself — callers holding a reference are responsible for doing so when they receive the signal.

`serialize`

Args: Data.SerializationFlags: p_flags
Returns: Dictionary[String, Variant]

Returns a JSON-compatible dictionary representing the serialized state of this object. Always includes name and class_name. Includes uuid unless Data.SerializationFlags.NO_UUID is set in p_flags.

`deserialize`

Args:

Dictionary: p_serialized_data
Data.SerializationFlags: p_flags

Returns: void

Restores object state from a dictionary produced by serialize or loaded from disk. Restores name and, unless Data.SerializationFlags.NO_UUID is set, uuid. Missing keys fall back to the current values on the object.

Notes

GlobalBaseClass is a structural template, not a strict base class requirement. A class is GBC-compatible as long as it implements the same signals, variables, and method signatures — it does not need to extend GlobalBaseClass directly.
Each class in the inheritance hierarchy is responsible for calling _set_class_name during its own _init. This is what populates the class tree returned by get_class_tree.
delete only emits a signal. The object is not freed automatically. Any code holding a reference must connect to delete_requested and free or de-reference the object itself.
The serialize / deserialize pair is intended to be overridden by subclasses. Each subclass should call super.serialize() / super.deserialize() and merge its own data on top.