Is it better to keep data in global tables/dictionaries, or make them in the scirpt?

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#1

I am making a survival game. i have a dictionary that includes the amount of wood/stone/gold and other objects that are needed to craft an item. I only have two scripts that need this info: the clientGUI (crafting system), and the server which deducts the items. I’m wondering, is it better to store this in a global dictionary, and if so, how would I do that?

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#2

I would use a ModuleScript (roblox.com), add the functions:

function module.addItem(player: Player, item: string, amount: number)

function module.removeItem(player: Player, item: string, amount: number)

function module.getInventory(player: Player)

This should make it somewhat easy to keep track of which items the player does/doesn’t have. To let the player get access to the inventory (only allow it to view which items the player has, not change them) you could add a remote function:

remoteFunction.OnServerInvoke = function(player)
	return module.getInventory(player)
end)

This will return the inventory of the player who asked to see their inventory.

#3

Apologies for possibly being to vague, but I was asking about whether I should make dictionaries for how much the craftables cost - as I would have to change both scripts if I wanted to add one craftable.

#4

You are thinking right regarding having to update things on multiple places, you should avoid repeating yourself as much as possible when it comes to programming.

I would still use a module script for this, a module script is just a table which multiple scripts can have access to (more or less). The following script may be better suited for you if you require crafting costs:

local module = {}
local craftingCosts = {
	["Bow"] = {
		["Stick"] = 3,
		["String"] = 3,
	},
}


function module.getRecipes()
	return table.clone(craftingCosts)
end

return module

By making craftingCosts a separate table to module you are preventing scripts from gaining access to the actual recipes, instead they get access to a cloned table. This is helpful to prevent accidental modification from other server scripts, but not a requirement.

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