Proposed: Multiplayer Sync Between Different Godot Instances
What is the context of the proposal?
We aim to enhance multiplayer capabilities in the Godot Engine by synchronizing node scene trees across different instances.
What is the problem being solved?
Currently, synchronizing complex node scene trees in multiplayer scenarios within Godot is challenging. There’s a need for an efficient method to ensure consistency across all client instances.
Describe how your proposal will work with code, pseudo-code, mock-ups, or diagrams.
The proposal involves implementing a synchronization protocol that mirrors the node scene tree structure across all multiplayer instances. This includes:
Syncing Node Trees: Establishing real-time updates, property synchronization, and state management to ensure all clients reflect the same scene tree.
func sync_scene_tree(node): for child in node.get_children(): update_network_properties(child) sync_scene_tree(child)
What are the benefits of the proposal?
This proposal ensures consistency by providing all multiplayer clients with a synchronized view of the scene. Performance is enhanced by offloading heavy operations to a shadow tree, preventing main thread blockages. Scalability is facilitated through reliable synchronization of multiplayer environments.
What are the downsides of the proposal?
There is increased complexity from implementing synchronization protocols. Latency issues might occur with high-frequency updates.
What are the alternative proposals?
- Server-side authority: Centralizing scene management on the server to control synchronization.
- State interpolation: Managing discrepancies through interpolation techniques.
- Decentralized synchronization: Allowing clients to manage their own logic without a central protocol.
When might the proposed solution be used rarely or not at all?
In single-player environments or where scene complexity is minimal, the synchronization overhead might be unnecessary.
We do not maintain a shadow tree for web server gltf-binary export, since it’s only another synced gltf instance.
Is this a V-Sekai core responsibility, and should it be done by us?
Yes, managing multiplayer synchronization and asset generation aligns with V-Sekai’s focus on enhancing social VR functionalities within the Godot Engine ecosystem.
What is the status of the proposal?
Status: Proposed
Who is making decisions on the proposal?
- V-Sekai development team
List further reading references.
AI assistant Aria assisted with this article.