Dedicated Server

./my_game.x86_64 --headless

# boot.gd — autoload, runs before any scene loads
extends Node

func _ready() -> void:
    if OS.has_feature("dedicated_server") or DisplayServer.get_name() == "headless":
        # Disable rendering-dependent systems
        RenderingServer.set_render_loop_enabled(false)
        # Start server logic
        ServerBootstrap.start()
    else:
        # Start client logic
        ClientBootstrap.start()

// Boot.cs — autoload, runs before any scene loads.
using Godot;

public partial class Boot : Node
{
    public override void _Ready()
    {
        if (OS.HasFeature("dedicated_server") || DisplayServer.GetName() == "headless")
        {
            // Disable the render loop. The window is invisible but the engine still ticks.
            RenderingServer.SetRenderLoopEnabled(false);
            ServerBootstrap.Start();
        }
        else
        {
            ClientBootstrap.Start();
        }
    }
}

# server_main.gd — add as autoload named ServerMain
extends Node

## Physics frames per second — matches Project Settings → Physics → Common → Physics Ticks Per Second.
## Override via --tick-rate CLI argument (see Section 5).
var tick_rate: int = 60

## Current server tick counter.
var server_tick: int = 0


func _ready() -> void:
    # Guard: this node does nothing on the client.
    if not _is_server():
        set_process(false)
        set_physics_process(false)
        return

    Engine.physics_ticks_per_second = tick_rate
    print("[Server] Started — tick rate: %d Hz" % tick_rate)


func _physics_process(_delta: float) -> void:
    server_tick += 1
    _tick_game_logic()


func _tick_game_logic() -> void:
    # All authoritative game simulation goes here.
    # Never reference Camera, CanvasLayer, or any rendering node from this path.
    pass


## Returns true when this process is acting as the authoritative server.
func _is_server() -> bool:
    # Covers both: dedicated binary and hosted listen-server.
    return multiplayer.is_server()

# world.gd
extends Node

@onready var server_systems: Node = $ServerSystems   # physics, AI, scoring
@onready var client_systems: Node = $ClientSystems   # camera, HUD, audio


func _ready() -> void:
    # Disable server systems on clients and vice versa.
    server_systems.set_process_mode(
        PROCESS_MODE_ALWAYS if multiplayer.is_server() else PROCESS_MODE_DISABLED
    )
    client_systems.set_process_mode(
        PROCESS_MODE_DISABLED if multiplayer.is_server() else PROCESS_MODE_ALWAYS
    )

func _ready() -> void:
    if Engine.is_editor_hint():
        return  # Skip all runtime setup in editor preview

    if multiplayer.is_server():
        _server_init()
    else:
        _client_init()


func _server_init() -> void:
    print("[Server] Initializing authoritative state")


func _client_init() -> void:
    print("[Client] Initializing local presentation layer")

// ServerMain.cs — add as autoload named ServerMain
using Godot;

public partial class ServerMain : Node
{
    /// <summary>Physics ticks per second. Override via --tick-rate CLI argument.</summary>
    public int TickRate { get; set; } = 60;

    /// <summary>Current server tick counter.</summary>
    public int ServerTick { get; private set; }

    public override void _Ready()
    {
        if (!IsServer())
        {
            SetProcess(false);
            SetPhysicsProcess(false);
            return;
        }

        Engine.PhysicsTicksPerSecond = TickRate;
        GD.Print($"[Server] Started — tick rate: {TickRate} Hz");
    }

    public override void _PhysicsProcess(double delta)
    {
        ServerTick++;
        TickGameLogic();
    }

    private void TickGameLogic()
    {
        // All authoritative game simulation goes here.
    }

    private bool IsServer() => Multiplayer.IsServer();
}

// World.cs
using Godot;

public partial class World : Node
{
    [Export] private Node _serverSystems = null!;
    [Export] private Node _clientSystems = null!;

    public override void _Ready()
    {
        if (Engine.IsEditorHint()) return;

        _serverSystems.ProcessMode = Multiplayer.IsServer()
            ? ProcessModeEnum.Always
            : ProcessModeEnum.Disabled;

        _clientSystems.ProcessMode = Multiplayer.IsServer()
            ? ProcessModeEnum.Disabled
            : ProcessModeEnum.Always;
    }
}