Godot Export Builds

Export & Builds

Headless / CI / platform release plumbing — not Editor → Export click-path tutorials.

NEVER Do (Expert Export Rules)

Platform & Validation

• NEVER export to production without a smoke test — Editor play ≠ Web/Mobile/Console constraints.
• NEVER skip macOS notarization for direct distribution — Gatekeeper blocks unsigned apps (Steam/App Store distribution can substitute).
• NEVER use ad-hoc writable res:// paths in builds — Saves/logs go to user://.

Performance & Size

• NEVER ship Debug templates as release — Use --export-release.
• NEVER include raw authoring junk — Filter .md / .psd / docs out of presets.
• NEVER ignore VRAM compression on Web/Mobile — Enable ASTC/ETC2 (keep pixel art uncompressed).

Security

• NEVER commit keystores or passwords — Env vars + export_android_signing_env.ps1.
• NEVER leave debug cheats in release — Gate with OS.has_feature("release").
• NEVER enable Shader Baker on dedicated server exports — Wasted build time; baker is for visual clients.

Platform Decision Tree

Editor Export UI / template download prose: use Official Documentation links in Reference — or export-setup-guide.md for INI/CLI/platform checklists.

Available Scripts

MANDATORY: Read the script that matches the platform decision above before implementing.

• export_headless_pipeline.ps1
• headless_build.sh
• export_version_sync.gd / version_manager.gd
• export_post_process_hook.gd
• export_feature_flag_manager.gd
• export_pck_patch_loader.gd
• export_android_signing_env.ps1
• export_custom_build_stripper.py
• export_macos_notarize_cmd.ps1
• export_build_size_report.gd
• export_ci_github_actions.yml — pin 4.7 templates/executable
• export_steam_upload.ps1 — SteamPipe via steamcmd + VDF
• export_universal_manager.gd

CI Contract (4.7)

Workflows must pull Godot 4.7 editor + export templates (not 4.2.x). Prefer the checked-in export_ci_github_actions.yml over pasted legacy YAML. Artifacts upload with actions/upload-artifact@v4.

Expert Export Patterns

1. Platform-Specific Patching (Delta Updates)

Mount external PCKs with ProjectSettings.load_resource_pack(path, true) — same-path resources override base. See export_pck_patch_loader.gd.

2. VRAM Compression Audit

• Desktop Forward+: S3TC/BPTC
• Mobile: ETC2 / ASTC
• Pixel art: compression off

3. SteamPipe Upload

Build locally/CI → export_steam_upload.ps1 with STEAM_USER / STEAM_PASS / STEAMCMD_PATH env vars and an app_build.vdf.

4. Universal Build Manager

Iterate presets from export_presets.cfg via export_universal_manager.gd for one-click multi-platform consistency.

Reference

Progressive disclosure: open Official Documentation links only when researching a specific API; load Related Skills when routing to a peer domain — do not preload the whole lattice.

Official Documentation

• Exporting (tutorial index) — Entry map for presets, templates, platform guides, feature tags, and PCK workflows before platform deep-dives.
• Exporting projects — Export presets, template install, include/exclude filters, and release vs debug template choice.
• Feature tags — OS.has_feature / custom tags that drive runtime stripping of debug tools and platform forks.
• Command line tutorial — --headless, --export-release, --export-debug, and --export-pack for CI and scripted pipelines.
• Exporting packs, patches, and mods — PCK/DLC mounting with ProjectSettings.load_resource_pack for delta updates.
• Exporting for Android — SDK, keystore, and signing env expectations for store and CI Android builds.
• Exporting for macOS — Codesign, notarization, and universal binary options required for Gatekeeper distribution.
• Exporting for Web — Threading/SharedArrayBuffer, VRAM compression, and HTML5 shell constraints for web smoke tests.
• Exporting for dedicated servers — Headless server templates and why client-only bake steps (e.g. shader baker) waste server builds.
• EditorExportPlugin — Hook API for post-export zip/manifest steps shared across team export presets.
• Optimizing for size — SCons module stripping and size flags when custom templates must beat stock binary weight.
• Data paths — res:// vs user:// so exported builds do not write into read-only packed paths.

Related Skills

Prerequisites

• godot-project-foundations — Project layout, project.godot version/icon settings, and import defaults must be sane before export presets and filters.
• godot-gdscript-mastery — EditorScript / plugin typing and OS.execute patterns used by version sync, universal export, and post-process hooks.

Complements

• godot-platform-desktop — Windows/Linux/macOS runtime quirks (icons, windowing, Steam) that export presets must match.
• godot-platform-mobile — Android/iOS permission, orientation, and input assumptions that belong in mobile export options.
• godot-platform-web — Web host constraints (CORS, threads, memory) that decide Web export type and smoke-test matrix.
• godot-platform-console — Console certification packaging flows that extend beyond desktop/mobile export templates.
• godot-adapt-desktop-to-mobile — Touch/UI/safe-area adaptations that must ship in mobile feature-tagged builds, not desktop-only assets.
• godot-debugging-profiling — Profile export vs editor differences (shader compile, memory) before blaming preset filters.
• godot-testing-patterns — Automated smoke tests against headless/CI artifacts so “runs in editor” never ships alone.
• godot-save-load-systems — Persist under user://; export filters must not strip save schemas players need after install.
• godot-resource-data-patterns — Resource packing and .gdignore hygiene that directly shrinks export footprint.

Downstream / consumers

• godot-performance-optimization — Escalate when release builds still fail budgets after filters, VRAM compression, and template choice.
• godot-server-architecture — Consumes dedicated-server export presets and headless pipelines for authoritative hosts.
• godot-multiplayer-networking — Client/server binary pairs and feature tags for dedicated vs listen-server packaging.

Master

• godot-master — Library router and mirrored module entry; open when discovering which Domain Skill owns a cross-cutting export or platform concern.