[Headache] Can`t build GDExtension with Godot 4.4

[OleLukCie]

Godot version

4.4 stable

godot-cpp version

4.4

System information

Windows11

Issue description

1. Difficulty Locating Header Files in godot-cpp
   It's not that I can't find it, it's that the path is annoying
   It is cumbersome to locate specific header files within the godot-cpp, especially when configuring include paths in Visual Studio 2022. This often results in unresolved external symbol errors due to missing or incorrectly specified headers.
2. Insufficient Documentation
   The official documentation lacks comprehensive guidance on key aspects such as:
   Proper project setup with Visual Studio 2022
   Detailed explanation of GDExtension API
   Best practices for Variant type handling
   Character encoding configuration
3. Frequent Errors in GDExtensionInitialize
   The GDExtensionInitialize function often fails with cryptic error messages, including:
   GDEXTENSION_INITIALIZATION_FAILED
   Undefined symbol errors related to initialization functions
4. Character Encoding Issues
   Source files containing non-ASCII characters (e.g., comments or string literals) may exhibit encoding corruption, leading to:
   Compilation errors
   Runtime crashes when accessing misencoded strings
5. Version Compatibility Issues
   Inconsistencies between godot-cpp, Godot Engine, and GDExtension API versions cause subtle but critical compatibility issues, such as:
   Function signature mismatches
   Missing or deprecated API features
   Incompatible Variant conversion behavior
6. Variant Type Conversion Exceptions
   Unexpected exceptions occur during Variant type conversions, particularly when:
   Converting between complex types (e.g., Dictionary to custom object)
   Handling null or uninitialized Variant values
   Using Variant with custom GDExtension classes

Steps to reproduce

1. Header File Location Issue
   Create a new GDExtension project in Visual Studio 2022
   Attempt to include common headers (e.g., .../.../node.hpp)
   Guess what, which header files start with ‘gd’? Which ones don't?
   Guess if it's .h or .hpp?
2. Documentation Deficiency
   Refer to the official godot-cpp documentation
   Attempt to find guidance on:
   Configuring Visual Studio 2022 for godot-cpp
   Advanced GDExtension initialization patterns
   Safe Variant type conversion practices
3. GDExtensionInitialize Errors
   Implement a basic GDExtension with GDExtensionInitialize
   Build and load the extension in Godot Engine
   Observe initialization failures with error messages like: ERROR: initialize_library: GDExtension initialization failed.
4. Character Encoding Problems
   Create a C++ source file with non-ASCII characters (e.g., Chinese/Japanese comments)
   Build the project in Visual Studio 2022
   Observe compilation errors or runtime string corruption
5. Version Compatibility
   Use godot-cpp-4.4 with Godot Engine 4.4-stable
   Implement a GDExtension using deprecated API features
   Observe runtime crashes or undefined behavior
6. Variant Conversion Exceptions
   Write code to convert a Variant Dictionary to a custom object
   Trigger conversion with missing or invalid keys

Minimal reproduction project

System Configuration:
OS: Windows 11
Godot Engine Version: 4.4-stable
godot-cpp Version: 4.4
Visual Studio: 2022 (17.5.5)
Compiler: MSVC 14.35.32215

In terms of experience, directly modifying the engine code in VS2022 is clearer and more convenient than using Godot-cpp to develop GDExtension plugins, kidding?

[OleLukCie]

Maybe I'm not smart enough, and if someone can provide an answer, I'd be very grateful

[enetheru]

I totally sympathise with the frustration, I just dont see how an issue like this is able to be worked on as a grab bag of under-specified issues.
My suggestion is that you take each of these points, create an individual test project for each of them( perhaps pick th emost urgent first), try your luck in the forums and discord by posting the exact errors you are getting and show your code. And then if you have no luck re-submit them individually showing your work, projects, error messages etc. I'm sure that you will be able to overcome the problems if you tackle each case one by one.

Maybe I'm not smart enough

Never count yourself out. You don't know how the universe will unfold