Unlocking the Power of C# in Unity: Modern Code for Better Games

Prerequisites

Before we dive in, make sure you have:

• Basic knowledge of Unity
• Previous experience writing C# scripts in Unity

Setting Up Your Unity Project

Create a new Unity project using version 2021.3.4f1 or later. Choose the 2D (core) template and name your project. Create a folder called Scripts inside the Assets folder to keep your project organized.

The Power of C# Features

Since C# 7.0, numerous improvements have been added to the language. We’ll focus on six features that will revolutionize your Unity development experience:

Switch Expression

The switch expression simplifies complex conditional logic, reducing the need for boilerplate code.

// Before
switch (value)
{
    case 1:
        result = "one";
        break;
    case 2:
        result = "two";
        break;
    default:
        result = "unknown";
        break;
}

// After
result = value switch
{
    1 => "one",
    2 => "two",
    _ => "unknown"
};

Property Pattern

The property pattern enables you to match properties of an object examined in a switch expression.

// Before
if (person.Name == "John" && person.Age == 30)
{
    // code here
}

// After
if (person is { Name: "John", Age: 30 })
{
    // code here
}

Type Pattern

The type pattern checks if the runtime type of an expression is compatible with a given type.

// Before
if (obj is string str)
{
    // code here
}

// After
if (obj is string)
{
    // code here
}

Constant Pattern

The constant pattern tests if an expression result equals a specified constant.

// Before
if (value == 5)
{
    // code here
}

// After
if (value is 5)
{
    // code here
}

Relational Pattern

The relational pattern compares an expression result with a constant.

// Before
if (value > 10)
{
    // code here
}

// After
if (value is > 10)
{
    // code here
}

Logical Pattern

The logical pattern combines logical operators to create complex expressions.

// Before
if (value > 10 && value < 20)
{
    // code here
}

// After
if (value is > 10 and < 20)
{
    // code here
}

By incorporating these features into your Unity development workflow, you’ll write more modern, efficient, and maintainable code. Take your game development to the next level and start exploring the power of C# in Unity today!