How can I create a JSON file to store game settings and configurations that the game can read at startup in Godot?

Creating and Using JSON Files for Game Settings in Godot

Step 1: Define Your Settings Structure

Start by determining the settings you need to store. For example:

{
    "resolution": "1920x1080",
    "volume": 75,
    "fullscreen": true,
    "language": "en"
}

Step 2: Creating JSON in Godot

Use Godot’s File class to create and write JSON files. Here’s a simple example:

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var settings = {
    "resolution": "1920x1080",
    "volume": 75,
    "fullscreen": true,
    "language": "en"
}

var file = File.new()
file.open("user://settings.json", File.WRITE)
file.store_string(to_json(settings))
file.close()

Step 3: Reading JSON at Startup

To read the settings at startup, you can do the following:

func _ready():
    var file = File.new()
    if file.file_exists("user://settings.json"):
        file.open("user://settings.json", File.READ)
        var settings = parse_json(file.get_as_text())
        file.close()
        apply_settings(settings)

func apply_settings(settings):
    OS.set_window_fullscreen(settings["fullscreen"])
    AudioServer.set_bus_volume_db(0, settings["volume"].to_db())
    # Apply other settings as needed

Step 4: Managing JSON Data

Utilize JSON schemas or other validation methods to ensure data integrity and avoid common pitfalls in JSON handling.

Best Practices

• Always validate JSON data before using it in the game to prevent errors.
• Consider providing a default settings file in case the user file is corrupted or missing.
• Regularly back up settings files to avoid loss of user preferences.