Feature Suggestion: ECS?

[ImEthan-cmd]

If beneficial, integrate one of the following Entity Component Systems.

https://github.com/bestofact/recs

https://github.com/SanderMertens/flecs

https://github.com/vladbelousoff/element

https://github.com/outfox/fennecs - C#, would need to be ported or just language binded.

[jrouwe]

I would say that you can create several components in an ECS that talk to a physics engine to provide certain functionality (e.g. a rigid body component / sensor component). But I don't see how one would actually use an ECS inside a physics engine. A physics engine is not just a collection of bodies that you can update, it needs several carefully designed data structures to work. Perhaps you see something I don't?

[ImEthan-cmd]

Well, the idea came from seeing this: https://github.com/xissburg/edyn

I was hoping you could tell me if Jolt would benefit from such a system since y'know, you created it?

I'm a complete beginner, but I like doing lots of research, and looking at various technologies when it comes to gamedev. 😅

[jrouwe]

Interesting, I hadn't seen that project. So I guess it is possible to do this, but it would be a massive rewrite for Jolt. And I suspect it wouldn't be faster. ECS shines if you linearly iterate over all entities and operate only on a few properties at a time. If, like in a physics engine, you work with random groups of entities ('islands') then I think it only adds extra cache misses.

[ImEthan-cmd]

Ah okay, I see. Makes sense, just thought there was no harm in asking :)