Unity Data Persistence

Unity Data Persistence

Implement a professional Save/Load system built around data binding: saveable objects hold a live reference to a DTO that is always up-to-date, making serialization near-instant and backend-agnostic.

Inspired by adammyhre/Unity-Inventory-System.

Core Architecture

SaveLoadSystem
    ├── IDataService  (FileDataService by default)
    │       └── ISerializer  (JsonSerializer by default)
    └── GameData  (your root DTO)
            ├── PlayerData   (ISaveable) ←─ Hero.Bind()
            └── InventoryData (ISaveable) ←─ Inventory.Bind()

Core Features

1. Data Binding Pattern: MonoBehaviours hold a reference to their own DTO, so saving is just serializing GameData — no polling, no property walking.
2. IBind<T> / ISaveable: Two interfaces that wire scene entities to their save data at scene load time.
3. SerializableGuid: Stable, fast GUID identity (int-based comparison) for matching saved data to spawned entities.
4. Swappable Backend: IDataService + ISerializer let you change from local JSON to Cloud/Binary with a one-line change.
5. Multi-Entity Binding: List-based Bind<T, TData>(List<TData>) handles many-entity scenarios (enemies, spawners).

Core Files (Max 3)

• PersistenceCore.cs.txt — ISerializer, JsonSerializer, IDataService, ISaveable, IBind<T>, SerializableGuid
• FileDataService.cs.txt — Local disk implementation: Save, Load, Delete, DeleteAll, ListSaves
• SaveLoadSystem.cs.txt — Persistent MonoBehaviour orchestrator with Bind<T,TData>() and public Save/Load/New API

Usage

Quick Start (Light Path — no binding needed)

// 1. Extend GameData with your fields
[Serializable] public class GameData {
    public string Name;
    public int Score;
}

// 2. Save / Load
SaveLoadSystem.Instance.gameData.Score = 100;
SaveLoadSystem.Instance.SaveGame();
SaveLoadSystem.Instance.LoadGame("MySave");

Full System (Pro Path — data binding)

// 1. Create a DTO
[Serializable] public class PlayerData : ISaveable {
    [field: SerializeField] public SerializableGuid Id { get; set; }
    public Vector3 position;
}

// 2. Implement IBind on your MonoBehaviour
public class PlayerEntity : MonoBehaviour, IBind<PlayerData> {
    [SerializeField] SerializableGuid id;
    PlayerData data;
    public SerializableGuid Id { get => id; set => id = value; }
    public void Bind (PlayerData d) { data = d; data.Id = id; transform.position = d.position; }
    void Update () { data.position = transform.position; } // write-through
}

// 3. Register in SaveLoadSystem.OnSceneLoaded
Bind<PlayerEntity, PlayerData>(gameData.playerData);

See references/guide.md for complete examples including multi-entity binding and backend swapping.

Key Principle

Design your data model first. The DTO structure IS your save format. Start simple (GameData with flat fields) — add binding only when entities need independent, restorable state.