If you’re new to coding, you might find it intimidating at first. But with the right tools and resources, anyone can learn how to code in Unity, the popular game engine.
In this guide, we’ll go over the basics of coding in Unity, including setting up your development environment, learning the C programming language, and working with scriptable objects.
Getting Started
Before you can start coding in Unity, you need to download and install the engine on your computer. Once you have Unity installed, create a new project by going to File > New Project in the menu bar.
In the new project window, choose the type of project you want to create (e.g., 2D, 3D, or AR/VR). Then select a template for your project. A template provides a basic structure for your project, including some pre-created assets like cameras and lights.
Once you’ve selected your template, click the “Create” button to create your project.
Learning C
C is the programming language used in Unity, and it’s a popular choice for game development. If you’re new to coding, you might find C daunting at first, but with the right resources, anyone can learn this powerful language.
To get started with C in Unity, you need to install the C compiler on your computer. You can download the compiler from Microsoft’s website or from within Unity itself by going to Window > Package Manager and searching for “C”.
Once you have the C compiler installed, you can start writing code in Unity by opening a script in the Project window. A script is a file that contains C code and can be attached to game objects in your scene.
To write your first script, open a new text editor and save it with a .cs extension (e.g., “MyScript.cs”). Then open the script in Unity by double-clicking it in the Project window.
In the script editor, you can start writing C code using the syntax of the language. You can use variables to store values, create functions, and manipulate game objects.
Working with Scriptable Objects
A scriptable object is a type of object in Unity that has embedded script code. Scriptable objects are useful for storing and manipulating data in your scene without having to attach scripts to every individual game object.
To create a scriptable object, right-click in the Hierarchy window and select “Create Empty”. In the new object’s inspector (the panel on the right side of the screen), you can add properties and variables that will be used in your script.
Once you’ve created a scriptable object, you can attach a script to it by dragging the script from the Project window onto the object in the Hierarchy. This will cause the script to automatically attach itself to the object and start executing its code.
Summary
Coding in Unity can be daunting for beginners, but with the right tools and resources, anyone can learn this powerful language. By setting up your development environment, learning C, and working with scriptable objects, you’ll be well on your way to creating your first game in Unity.
