Export & Builds

Headless / CI / platform release plumbing — not Editor → Export click-path tutorials.

NEVER Do (Expert Export Rules)

Platform & Validation

• NEVER export to production without a smoke test — Editor play ≠ Web/Mobile/Console constraints.
• NEVER skip macOS notarization for direct distribution — Gatekeeper blocks unsigned apps (Steam/App Store distribution can substitute).
• NEVER use ad-hoc writable res:// paths in builds — Saves/logs go to user://.

Performance & Size

• NEVER ship Debug templates as release — Use --export-release.
• NEVER include raw authoring junk — Filter .md / .psd / docs out of presets.
• NEVER ignore VRAM compression on Web/Mobile — Enable ASTC/ETC2 (keep pixel art uncompressed).

Security

• NEVER commit keystores or passwords — Env vars + [exportandroidsigningenv.ps1](scripts/exportandroidsigningenv.ps1).
• NEVER leave debug cheats in release — Gate with OS.has_feature("release").
• NEVER enable Shader Baker on dedicated server exports — Wasted build time; baker is for visual clients.

Platform Decision Tree

Editor Export UI / template download prose: use Official Documentation links in Reference — or [export-setup-guide.md](references/export-setup-guide.md) for INI/CLI/platform checklists.

Available Scripts

MANDATORY: Read the script that matches the platform decision above before implementing.

• [exportheadlesspipeline.ps1](scripts/exportheadlesspipeline.ps1)
• [headlessbuild.sh](scripts/headlessbuild.sh)
• [exportversionsync.gd](scripts/exportversionsync.gd) / [versionmanager.gd](scripts/versionmanager.gd)
• [exportpostprocesshook.gd](scripts/exportpostprocesshook.gd)
• [exportfeatureflagmanager.gd](scripts/exportfeatureflagmanager.gd)
• [exportpckpatchloader.gd](scripts/exportpckpatchloader.gd)
• [exportandroidsigningenv.ps1](scripts/exportandroidsigningenv.ps1)
• [exportcustombuildstripper.py](scripts/exportcustombuildstripper.py)
• [exportmacosnotarizecmd.ps1](scripts/exportmacosnotarizecmd.ps1)
• [exportbuildsizereport.gd](scripts/exportbuildsizereport.gd)
• [exportcigithubactions.yml](scripts/exportcigithubactions.yml) — pin 4.7 templates/executable
• [exportsteamupload.ps1](scripts/exportsteamupload.ps1) — SteamPipe via steamcmd + VDF
• [exportuniversalmanager.gd](scripts/exportuniversalmanager.gd)

CI Contract (4.7)

Workflows must pull Godot 4.7 editor + export templates (not 4.2.x). Prefer the checked-in [exportcigithubactions.yml](scripts/exportcigithubactions.yml) over pasted legacy YAML. Artifacts upload with actions/upload-artifact@v4.

Expert Export Patterns

1. Platform-Specific Patching (Delta Updates)

Mount external PCKs with ProjectSettings.loadresourcepack(path, true) — same-path resources override base. See [exportpckpatchloader.gd](scripts/exportpckpatchloader.gd).

2. VRAM Compression Audit

• Desktop Forward+: S3TC/BPTC
• Mobile: ETC2 / ASTC
• Pixel art: compression off

3. SteamPipe Upload

Build locally/CI → [exportsteamupload.ps1](scripts/exportsteamupload.ps1) with STEAMUSER / STEAMPASS / STEAMCMDPATH env vars and an appbuild.vdf.

4. Universal Build Manager

Iterate presets from exportpresets.cfg via [exportuniversalmanager.gd](scripts/exportuniversal_manager.gd) for one-click multi-platform consistency.

Reference

Progressive disclosure: open Official Documentation links only when researching a specific API; load Related Skills when routing to a peer domain — do not preload the whole lattice.

Official Documentation

• Exporting (tutorial index) — Entry map for presets, templates, platform guides, feature tags, and PCK workflows before platform deep-dives.
• Exporting projects — Export presets, template install, include/exclude filters, and release vs debug template choice.
• Feature tags — OS.hasfeature / custom tags that drive runtime stripping of debug tools and platform forks.
• Command line tutorial — --headless, --export-release, --export-debug, and --export-pack for CI and scripted pipelines.
• Exporting packs, patches, and mods — PCK/DLC mounting with ProjectSettings.loadresource_pack for delta updates.
• Exporting for Android — SDK, keystore, and signing env expectations for store and CI Android builds.
• Exporting for macOS — Codesign, notarization, and universal binary options required for Gatekeeper distribution.
• Exporting for Web — Threading/SharedArrayBuffer, VRAM compression, and HTML5 shell constraints for web smoke tests.
• Exporting for dedicated servers — Headless server templates and why client-only bake steps (e.g. shader baker) waste server builds.
• EditorExportPlugin — Hook API for post-export zip/manifest steps shared across team export presets.
• Optimizing for size — SCons module stripping and size flags when custom templates must beat stock binary weight.
• Data paths — res:// vs user:// so exported builds do not write into read-only packed paths.

Related Skills

Prerequisites

• godot-project-foundations — Project layout, project.godot version/icon settings, and import defaults must be sane before export presets and filters.
• godot-gdscript-mastery — EditorScript / plugin typing and OS.execute patterns used by version sync, universal export, and post-process hooks.

Complements

• godot-platform-desktop — Windows/Linux/macOS runtime quirks (icons, windowing, Steam) that export presets must match.
• godot-platform-mobile — Android/iOS permission, orientation, and input assumptions that belong in mobile export options.
• godot-platform-web — Web host constraints (CORS, threads, memory) that decide Web export type and smoke-test matrix.
• godot-platform-console — Console certification packaging flows that extend beyond desktop/mobile export templates.
• godot-adapt-desktop-to-mobile — Touch/UI/safe-area adaptations that must ship in mobile feature-tagged builds, not desktop-only assets.
• godot-debugging-profiling — Profile export vs editor differences (shader compile, memory) before blaming preset filters.
• godot-testing-patterns — Automated smoke tests against headless/CI artifacts so “runs in editor” never ships alone.
• godot-save-load-systems — Persist under user://; export filters must not strip save schemas players need after install.
• godot-resource-data-patterns — Resource packing and .gdignore hygiene that directly shrinks export footprint.

Downstream / consumers

• godot-performance-optimization — Escalate when release builds still fail budgets after filters, VRAM compression, and template choice.
• godot-server-architecture — Consumes dedicated-server export presets and headless pipelines for authoritative hosts.
• godot-multiplayer-networking — Client/server binary pairs and feature tags for dedicated vs listen-server packaging.

Master

• godot-master — Library router and mirrored module entry; open when discovering which Domain Skill owns a cross-cutting export or platform concern.