The current serialization system provides robust strategies for stability (Definition), editor interchange (Recipe), and raw performance (Archetype). However, it lacks a strategy optimized for the most common runtime persistence task: saving small changes to a large world, such as in a game save. Serializing the entire scene state for every save operation is highly inefficient, leading to large files and slow performance.
This issue proposes the implementation of a fourth strategic Lane: the DeltaSerializationLane. Its core principle is to serialize only the differences (deltas) between a "base" world state and a "modified" world state. This will produce extremely small and efficient payloads for scenarios where only a few elements have changed.
This feature is a critical prerequisite for two major future systems:
- Efficient Game Saves: Enables fast, lightweight saving of player progress.
- Editor Undo/Redo System: The concept of applying and reverting "deltas" is the foundational mechanism for a robust undo/redo stack.
Upon completion, this new Lane will be integrated into the SerializationAgent, which will select it when the SerializationGoal::SmallestFileSize is requested, providing a truly optimal choice for this use case.
The current serialization system provides robust strategies for stability (
Definition), editor interchange (Recipe), and raw performance (Archetype). However, it lacks a strategy optimized for the most common runtime persistence task: saving small changes to a large world, such as in a game save. Serializing the entire scene state for every save operation is highly inefficient, leading to large files and slow performance.This issue proposes the implementation of a fourth strategic
Lane: theDeltaSerializationLane. Its core principle is to serialize only the differences (deltas) between a "base" world state and a "modified" world state. This will produce extremely small and efficient payloads for scenarios where only a few elements have changed.This feature is a critical prerequisite for two major future systems:
Upon completion, this new
Lanewill be integrated into theSerializationAgent, which will select it when theSerializationGoal::SmallestFileSizeis requested, providing a truly optimal choice for this use case.