Stop Rider IDE Auto-Rebuild Godot Projects

Rider IDE automatically rebuilds Godot projects when maximizing the window or switching back due to Godot’s Auto-Save and Auto-Import features being triggered when the editor loses focus. To prevent this automatic behavior, you need to disable specific settings in the Godot editor and configure Rider IDE properly. This issue occurs because Godot’s editor settings automatically save and import resources when the window loses focus, which Rider then detects and reacts to by rebuilding the project.

Contents

• Understanding the Auto-Rebuild Problem
• Key Godot Editor Settings to Disable
• Configuring Rider IDE for Godot Projects
• Additional Troubleshooting Steps
• Best Practices for Rider-Godot Integration
• Community Solutions and Workarounds

Understanding the Auto-Rebuild Problem

When you switch between Rider IDE and the Godot editor, or when you maximize Rider after minimizing it, Godot’s Auto-Save and Auto-Import features trigger automatically. This happens because Godot monitors for window focus loss and writes changes to disk, which Rider IDE then detects as modification to your project files. As a result, Rider initiates a rebuild process, which can be disruptive and time-consuming.

The JetBrains Rider documentation explains that Rider simply reacts to the changes that Godot writes to disk when these auto features are enabled. This is a common pain point for developers working with Rider IDE as their primary C# development environment for Godot projects.

Key Godot Editor Settings to Disable

To prevent Rider IDE from automatically rebuilding your Godot projects, you need to modify several settings in the Godot editor. These settings control when and how Godot saves and imports resources, which directly affects how Rider IDE responds to changes in your project.

Accessing Advanced Settings

First, you’ll need to enable Advanced Settings in the Godot editor:

1. Open your Godot project
2. Go to Editor Settings (from the top menu: Editor > Editor Settings)
3. At the top right of the Editor Settings window, check the box for Advanced Settings

This will reveal additional options that are normally hidden, including the ones responsible for the auto-rebuild behavior.

Disabling Save on Focus Loss

The most important setting to disable is Save on Focus Loss:

1. Navigate to Editor Settings → Interface → Editor
2. Find the Save on Focus Loss option
3. Uncheck this option to prevent Godot from automatically saving your project when the editor window loses focus

This setting is the primary culprit behind the auto-rebuild issue. When you switch from Godot to Rider IDE or maximize Rider, Godot saves the project, which triggers Rider to rebuild.

Disabling Import Resources When Unfocused

Another critical setting to modify is Import Resources When Unfocused:

1. Still in Editor Settings → Interface → Editor
2. Find the Import Resources When Unfocused option
3. Uncheck this option to prevent Godot from importing resources when the editor window is not in focus

This setting ensures that Godot doesn’t process resource imports when you’re working in Rider IDE, which can cause additional file changes that trigger Rider rebuilds.

Disabling Auto Reload Scripts

The Auto Reload Scripts on External Change setting can also contribute to the problem:

1. Navigate to Editor Settings → Text Editor → Behavior
2. Find the Auto Reload Scripts on External Change option
3. Uncheck this option to prevent Godot from automatically reloading scripts when external changes are detected

This setting helps prevent Godot from reacting to changes made in Rider IDE, which might otherwise trigger additional rebuilds.

Configuring Rider IDE for Godot Projects

After adjusting the Godot editor settings, you should also configure Rider IDE properly to minimize unnecessary rebuilds and improve the integration between the two tools.

LSP Server Connection Settings

The LSP (Language Server Protocol) server connection settings in Rider IDE can significantly affect how Rider interacts with your Godot project:

1. Open your Godot project in Rider IDE
2. Go to File → Settings → Languages & Frameworks → Godot Engine
3. Under LSP server connection, you have several options:
   • Automatically start headless LSP server: This is the default option and may cause additional rebuilds
   • Attempt to connect to the running Godot editor: Use this if you want Godot itself to handle the language server
   • Never use LSP: This option disables the language server entirely, which may not be ideal for development

For most users, the middle option provides the best balance between functionality and avoiding unnecessary rebuilds.

Using Random Port for Godot 4.3+

If you’re using Godot 4.3 or later and work with several projects, the JetBrains Rider documentation recommends using a random port:

1. In the same Languages & Frameworks → Godot Engine settings
2. Check the option to Use a random port
3. This helps prevent port conflicts when working with multiple Godot projects simultaneously

Opening the Solution Correctly

Sometimes, Rider IDE may not properly connect to the Godot project, causing unexpected behavior. The community suggests:

1. Right-click the .sln file within Rider
2. Select “Open” (even if the project is already open)
3. This can help re-establish the proper connection between Rider and your Godot project

Additional Troubleshooting Steps

If you’ve implemented the above settings but still experience auto-rebuild issues, consider these additional troubleshooting steps:

Check for Floating Editor Issues

According to community reports, floating script editors can cause focus loss issues:

• When writing on a floating script editor on a secondary display, saving the script file via Ctrl+S might cause the floating editor window to lose focus, making the primary Godot window focused
• This can trigger the auto-save behavior even if you’ve disabled it in the main settings
• Consider using the main editor window for script editing when possible

Monitor Godot Version Issues

Different versions of Godot may have different default settings or behaviors:

• The GitHub issue about auto save when focus loss is enabled reports that hitting escape on the save dialog can make the editor unresponsive
• If you’re experiencing this specific issue, consider using a different Godot version or reporting it to the Godot development team

Consider Alternative Editor Settings

If you frequently work between Godot and Rider, you might want to create a separate configuration profile in Godot with these auto-save features disabled, while keeping your main profile with default settings for when you’re not using Rider.

Best Practices for Rider-Godot Integration

To ensure a smooth development experience between Rider IDE and Godot, consider implementing these best practices:

Save Frequently in Both Editors

Since you’re disabling auto-save features in Godot, make it a habit to manually save your work frequently in both editors:

• In Godot: Use Ctrl+S or the save button to manually save your project
• In Rider: Configure auto-save settings that work for your workflow (Rider’s auto-save is typically less disruptive than Godot’s)

Use Version Control

Working with a version control system like Git can help manage changes and provide a safety net if unexpected rebuilds cause issues:

• Commit your changes frequently before switching between editors
• This gives you a clear state to revert to if something goes wrong

Optimize Rider Performance

To minimize rebuild times even when they do occur:

• Ensure Rider has adequate resources allocated to your project
• Configure Rider’s build settings to optimize for Godot C# development
• Consider using SSD storage for faster project loading and compilation

Test Changes in Godot First

For complex changes, consider testing them in the Godot editor first before switching to Rider IDE:

• This reduces the number of context switches between editors
• It allows Godot to process resources and build assets in a controlled environment

Community Solutions and Workarounds

The Godot and Rider communities have developed several solutions and workarounds for the auto-rebuild issue:

GitHub Community Proposals

The Godot community proposal suggests:

• Adding an editor setting to (re)import resources in the editor as soon as possible, without waiting for the user to focus the editor window again
• This could provide more granular control over when resources are imported

Stack Exchange Discussions

According to discussions on GameDev StackExchange:

• Proper configuration of Rider IDE for Godot C# development is crucial
• The integration process may require manual intervention to work correctly
• Some developers report success with specific configuration combinations

Workaround: Use External Editor for C# Only

Some developers have found success by:

• Using Godot’s built-in editor for all non-C# work
• Using Rider IDE exclusively for C# scripting
• This minimizes context switching and reduces the chance of triggering Godot’s auto-save features

Sources

1. JetBrains Rider Documentation - Godot
2. JetBrains Rider Documentation - Settings: Godot Engine
3. GitHub Issue: Auto save when focus loss is enabled can lock the editor
4. GitHub Issue: Floating script editor losing focus on save
5. GitHub Proposal: Add an editor setting to import resources even when the editor window isn’t focused
6. GameDev StackExchange: How do I configure Godot 4.1.1 to use Rider as the IDE for C?

Conclusion

Preventing Rider IDE from automatically rebuilding Godot projects when maximizing the window or switching back requires a combination of settings adjustments in both Godot and Rider. By disabling the Auto-Save and Auto-Import features in the Godot editor and properly configuring Rider IDE’s LSP server connection, you can eliminate most of these unwanted rebuilds. Remember that these settings are hidden behind the “Advanced Settings” toggle in Godot, so you’ll need to enable them first to access the relevant options. With the right configuration, you can enjoy a seamless development experience between Rider IDE and Godot without disruptive automatic rebuilds interrupting your workflow.