Automating Game Builds

1. Introduction

Automating game builds is a crucial part of modern game development, allowing developers to streamline the process of compiling and deploying game projects. This lesson will cover the essential techniques and tools used to automate game builds, ensuring a more efficient workflow.

2. Key Concepts

3. Setting Up the Environment

Before automating builds, ensure your development environment is set up properly. Here’s how to do it:

1. Install the necessary game engine (e.g., Unity, Unreal Engine).
2. Set up a version control system (e.g., Git) for tracking changes.
3. Choose a build automation tool (e.g., Jenkins, GitHub Actions).

4. Build Scripts

Build scripts are essential for automating the build process. Below is a basic example of a build script in a Unity project using a shell script:

#!/bin/bash
        # Unity Build Script
        /Applications/Unity/Hub/Editor/2021.1.0f1/Unity.app/Contents/MacOS/Unity \
        -quit \
        -batchmode \
        -projectPath "/path/to/your/project" \
        -executeMethod BuildScript.PerformBuild \
        -logFile "/path/to/your/logfile.log"

The script runs Unity in batch mode, executing a method to perform the build and logging the output.

5. Using Continuous Integration

Integrating CI into your build process allows for automated builds with every commit. Here’s how:

1. Choose a CI tool (e.g., Jenkins, CircleCI).
2. Set up a pipeline configuration file (e.g., .yml file for GitHub Actions).
3. Configure the pipeline to trigger builds on code changes.

6. Best Practices

• Keep build scripts in version control.
• Use environment variables for sensitive data.
• Document your build process clearly for team members.

7. FAQ