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As a Unity developer, you're likely familiar with the importance of app user experience (UX). But what if you want to create a game or application that's not only engaging but also performs well on even the lowest-end devices? Enter Defold, a free, cross-platform 3D game engine that's perfect for creating high-performance apps. In this article, we'll show you how to get started with Defold and what makes it an ideal choice for Unity developers.
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Defold is a powerful tool that's designed to be fast, even on low-end devices. Its component-based and data-driven architecture is similar to Unity's DOTS approach, making it easy to create complex apps without sacrificing performance. Plus, the engine size is remarkably small, ranging from 1-3 MB across all platforms. This means you can strip out unnecessary parts of the engine or move game content into Live Update for separate download later.
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To customize Defold to your needs, you can write your own code or use existing scripts and components. For example, you can create a fully scriptable rendering pipeline using render scripts and materials/shaders, or add custom C++/C# code as Native Extensions. You can even alter the build of the engine and editor itself by accessing the full source code and build pipeline.
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But what really sets Defold apart is its ease of use. With zero setup required, you can start creating apps right away. Just download Defold for your OS, unzip it, and launch. The Editor greets you with a welcome screen similar to Unity Hub, where you can open recent projects or start a new one from templates, tutorials, or samples.
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Once you've created your first project, you'll notice that the Defold Editor has a unique layout compared to Unity. Don't worry – we'll walk you through the key differences and similarities in our next section.
Understanding the Defold Editor
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As a Unity developer, you might be familiar with the Unity Editor's layout. But Defold has some key differences that are worth noting. The first difference is the default Editor layout, which is slightly modified to match Defold's default layout. This side-by-side comparison should help you quickly recognize the main panes in both Editors.
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By default, the Defold Editor opens in 2D orthographic preview mode. If you'll be working on a 3D project or want an experience closer to Unity, we recommend switching to 3D by unchecking the 2D toggle and changing the camera projection to perspective. You can also adjust the Grid Settings to use the Y plane, just like in Unity.
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The Defold Editor is divided into six main panes: Assets, Main Editor, Outline, Properties, Tools, and Changed Files. We've created a comparison table below to highlight the key differences between Defold and Unity naming and functional differences:
| Defold | Unity | Differences |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Assets | Project (Assets Browser) | In Defold, the Assets pane is docked on the left. Defold doesn't create any meta files. |
| 2. Main Editor | Scene View | The Defold Editor is context-sensitive, while Unity uses separate specialized windows. Defold also has a built-in code editor. |
| 3. Outline | Hierarchy | Defold reflects only the currently opened file or selected element, not a global hierarchy. |
| 4. Properties | Inspector | Defold shows only properties for the current selection in the Outline, not all components in the game object. |
| 5. Tools | Console | Defold provides tools like Console, Curve Editor, Build Errors, Search Results, Breakpoints, and Debugger. |
| 6. Changed Files | Unity Version Control (Plastic) | In Defold, changed files are shown once Git is integrated into your project. You can still use Git externally. |
Conclusion
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As a Unity developer, you're likely eager to get started with Defold and start creating high-performance apps that deliver great user experiences. With its component-based architecture, small engine size, and customizable pipeline, Defold is the perfect choice for Unity developers looking to create complex apps without sacrificing performance.
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By following this guide, you should be able to quickly get up and running with Defold and start creating your own high-performance apps. Whether you're building a game or an application, Defold's flexibility and ease of use make it an ideal choice for any developer looking to optimize app user experience.