Native c++ and C#

[srcrip]

Now that there's first class c++ and C# scripts in Godot is there any chance of being able to implement this plugin with that so that the compiling from source step isn't needed?

Would C# scripts be as fast as the current approach?

[TokisanGames]

I can safely say there's no chance Zylann will rewrite the module in C#. However your C# code can call the module.

C# has been measured at 2 - 7.5 times slower than C++.
http://www.royaldonut.games/2019/03/29/cpu-voxel-benchmarks-of-most-popular-languages-in-godot/

Converting the module to a plugin remains a possibility in the future, but it's low priority.

Rebuilding the engine with the module compiled is really no big deal for one who is becoming a game developer. However it is no longer a requirement:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfzmcbR1H_0

[Zylann]

I am considering "librarizing" the module in the far future so that it can have a GDNative implementation (or use in other engines), but currently GDNative symbols don't get represented in C# (i.e you have to use reflection to call it). A P/Invoke-ready build could work too for a library but all this is pretty much far in the future. I'm not considering porting to C# at all because it would just make it slower and too much work for my free time. You are free to do it, though.

Having it as a module right now is a good compromise, as all languages and platforms can use it without hassle apart from engine compilation, which is not a big deal anyways since @tinmanjuggernaut gracefully provides such builds now.

[srcrip]

I know C# code in Godot will sit somewhere between C++ and GDScript in terms of speed, but I was curious if that would be "enough" to make a good implementation.

[TokisanGames]

To write your game in C# and call this module will be quite performant. To rewrite the module as C# is not worth your time. It will be 2-7.5x slower and it's already not as fast as we'd like, though decent. There are gdscript implementations of blocky voxels around. But smooth voxels are quite taxing.

[blockspacer]

If you will convert the module to a plugin - support for some platforms (like HTML5) will be lost

Both GDNative and C# are not supported for HTML5 export.

BTW godot_voxel may work fine in HTML5 with threads disabled (or web workers and shared memory manually enabled in browser settings). I made godot_voxel work in browser long time ago and planning to add HTML5 support. godotengine/godot#12699 (comment)

If you want fast prototyping with C++ modules without recompiling - please try Cling for dev builds godotengine/godot#31630 (comment)

[Zylann]

Superseded by #333