How to properly refactor a class name, .gd and .tscn in Godot?

nines · July 3, 2025, 3:59pm

Godot Version

4.4

Question

I have created a class long ago, but then after re-iterating the game code several times, I would like to change the name of the class to something else entirely. Ex. PlayerCar → PlayerVehicle

I am not sure if Godot Editor has a Refactor function? So I used an external app to loop through the whole directory and all subdirectories recursively of my Godot project to replace all occurrences of PlayerCar to be PlayerVehicle in all .gd files. All other file extensions are untouched.

PlayerCar.gd and PlayerCar.tscn are manually renamed to be PlayerVehicle.gd and PlayerVehicle.tscn afterward.

I have already done all above, and I can see the game still runs. Are there any concerns or am I doing this validly?

Help > Programming

gertkeno · July 3, 2025, 4:06pm

Godot can refactor file paths when moved, it will not refactor class_name changes on it’s own. So your tools must have done it correctly.

gentlemanhal · July 3, 2025, 4:17pm

FYI, there is a proposal for adding refactoring tools to the editor. Give it a if you’re interested, as that helps the Godot team decide what to work on next.

github.com/godotengine/godot-proposals

Add "refactor" tooling to rename symbols in the script editor

opened 09:40AM - 26 May 20 UTC

Zireael07

topic:editor topic:gdscript

**Describe the project you are working on:** N/A (generic issue) **Describe th…e problem or limitation you are having in your project:** Renaming a variable in a script causes references to it in other script to be broken. **Describe the feature / enhancement and how it helps to overcome the problem or limitation:** When renaming a variable, it should refactor/rename references too. **Describe how your proposal will work, with code, pseudocode, mockups, and/or diagrams:** Quoted from original issue: When renaming any kind of object in Godot, it should find all occurrences in scripts/editor and change that as well. This can be achieved by parsing script files, any matching names for the changed scene/node, like "load(), preload(), set_script() get_node()..etc!) functions. This should apply too to renaming variables, it would be great if when renaming a variable in script it changes all occurrences in the script file. **If this enhancement will not be used often, can it be worked around with a few lines of script?:** Nope. (Also I assume it will be used more often the bigger and more complex projects are) **Is there a reason why this should be core and not an add-on in the asset library?:** Has to be done in script editor for variables use case, and in the editor itself (possibly Fix Dependencies dialog) for other use case. Original issue: https://github.com/godotengine/godot/issues/3163

wchc · July 3, 2025, 4:27pm

You can also use CTRL+SHIFT+R to find and replace all occurrences of a string within your project. Not exactly a proper refactoring tool, but works alright most of the time.