stride/docs/editor

Editor Framework — Overview

Stride's editor is built on a ViewModel layer that sits above Quantum and the asset system. Every mutation goes through a transaction stack that feeds undo/redo. A separate selection history stack, sharing the same low-level infrastructure, powers back/forward navigation. Both systems use ITransactionStack and Operation from the Stride.Core.Transactions namespace (assembly: Stride.Core.Design).

Shared Infrastructure

flowchart TD
    A["ITransactionStack + Operation<br/>Stride.Core.Design · Stride.Core.Transactions<br/>sources/core/Stride.Core.Design/Transactions/<br/>Shared interface and base type — each consumer creates its own instance"]
    B["IUndoRedoService<br/>Stride.Core.Presentation<br/>sources/presentation/Stride.Core.Presentation/Services/<br/>Wraps stack with naming, dirtiable sync, and save-point tracking"]
    C["SelectionService<br/>Stride.Core.Assets.Editor<br/>sources/editor/Stride.Core.Assets.Editor/Services/<br/>Separate unbounded stack; records selection snapshots"]

    A -. "uses" .-> B
    A -. "uses" .-> C

Projects

The editor codebase spans sources/presentation/ (MVVM framework, Quantum-to-UI binding, shared controls) and sources/editor/ (editor infrastructure and concrete asset editors). ViewModels are platform-agnostic; WPF coupling belongs in XAML files, code-behind, and WPF-specific service implementations. See projects.md for the full project map and assembly reference.

When You Need These Systems

Decision tree:

• Wrapping a property or collection mutation so it is undoable? → IUndoRedoService.CreateTransaction() + AnonymousDirtyingOperation. See undo-redo.md.

• Writing a reusable operation that merges consecutive edits on the same target? → DirtyingOperation subclass + IMergeableOperation. See undo-redo.md.

• Tracking which objects are "dirty" (unsaved) after changes? → IDirtiable / DirtiableManager. See undo-redo.md.

• Mutating a value through a Quantum node presenter (property grid edit)? → No PushOperation needed — ContentValueChangeOperation is pushed automatically by the Quantum infrastructure. See undo-redo.md.

• Understanding how back/forward selection history works? → SelectionService. See navigation.md.

• Creating a dedicated editing surface for a new asset type? → Write a custom editor. See custom-editor.md.

• Understanding or modifying an existing editor? → Existing editors catalogue. See editors.md.

Spoke Files

File	Covers
undo-redo.md	ITransactionStack, IUndoRedoService, DirtyingOperation, IMergeableOperation, IDirtiable, dirty-flag synchronisation
navigation.md	SelectionService, selection history snapshots, back/forward navigation
projects.md	Project inventory, WPF boundary rule, assembly map
custom-editor.md	Custom asset editor: base class, registration, lifecycle, services, MVVM patterns
editors.md	Existing editors catalogue: SpriteSheet, Scene, Prefab, UIPage, UILibrary, GraphicsCompositor, Script, VisualScript