First-class support for C++ as a scripting language -- what would it take?

[vittorioromeo]

A picture (mockup) is worth a thousand words. I want this:

When the script file is created, it opens up either in the internal text editor or in one I specify in Godot's settings, just like for C#.

When the project needs to be built/executed, all C++ files are compiled into a hot-reloadable shared library using the system compiler (overridable in Godot's settings), and the library is loaded on application startup.

Basically, I want the same workflow that Godot offers for C#, but for C++ instead. What would it take for this to happen?

I can think of a few individual tasks:

• UI work to support the new language
  • Update "add script" widget
  • Update Godot settings to add C++ compiler selection
  • Update internal text editor to support C++
• API work
  • Expose a nice and clean C++ API to the end users, closely mimicking C# but also taking advantage of C++'s value semantics and Modern C++ features
• Internal work
  • Add ability to compile C++ files from the editor into a shared library
  • Add support to dynamically load C++ shader libraries on application build/run cycle

This seems very doable. Is there something I am missing?

[Calinou]

Thanks for the proposal! Consolidating in #3367, #573 and #119.

As you can see in the linked proposals, this is a very complex task that would require bespoke code to be written as C# doesn't go through GDExtension.