Build Better Projects

Distinguish owning relationships from temporary non-owning access in an engine object graph.

Choose between value storage, `std::unique_ptr`, `std::shared_ptr`, `std::weak_ptr`, references, and raw pointers for a stated engine relationship.

Create an ownership table for scenes, actors, components, resources, cameras, and subsystem services.

Define creation and destruction order for engine startup, scene loading, play mode, and shutdown.

Design stable handles or identifiers for references that may outlive an object or resource reload.

Identify and eliminate a proposed shared-ownership cycle between engine objects.

Specify lifetime-safe rules for events, callbacks, and component-to-component communication.

State ownership invariants that can be checked during each refactoring step.

Define the responsibilities that belong in Actor, Component, Scene, and world-level services.

Separate component storage and lifetime management from per-frame component behavior.

Design a one-directional dependency rule between platform, engine runtime, editor, and game layers.

Classify existing code as reusable engine code, editor-only code, or code belonging to a particular game.

Define a narrow interface through which gameplay code requests rendering, collision, input, or networking services.

Design communication between components without giving every component unrestricted access to the Scene.

Separate editor selection and editor-camera state from runtime actor and camera state.

Draw the intended data flow for switching safely between edit mode and play mode.

Draw a target architecture diagram with explicit subsystem boundaries and dependency directions.

Compare the current and target architectures to identify the smallest independent migration steps.

Order refactoring steps so that ownership and lifetime problems are resolved before feature movement.

Define temporary compatibility seams that keep the engine usable while responsibilities are relocated.

Write acceptance checks for movement, jumping, cameras, collision, rendering, multiplayer, and packaging after each migration.

Create a risk register for changes that could invalidate references, serialization, networking, or editor state.

Record key architectural decisions with their context, chosen rule, and consequences.

Produce a staged refactoring roadmap that distinguishes immediate cleanup from later rendering, networking, and performance work.