unity-dots - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: unity-dots description: Index of 96 senior-level Unity DOTS/ECS skills mined from EntityComponentSystemSamples — covering entities, jobs, Burst, physics, netcode, baking, and transforms. Read ROUTING.md first to locate the right sub-skill. Do NOT load this index file as a standalone skill. use-when: | Load for unity-dots-dev agent to navigate to the correct DOTS sub-skill. Use ROUTING.md inside this pack to select the specific sub-skill needed for the task. do-not-use-when: | Do not load the index as a standalone skill — use sub-skills via ROUTING.md instead. Do not load for unity-dev (classic lane), tester, verifier, or non-DOTS tasks. platforms: [claude-code, codex, copilot, cursor, windsurf] task-categories: [ecs, reference, samples, dots] metadata: source: https://docs.unity3d.com/Packages/com.unity.entities@1.3 version: 1.3.8 tier: 1

Unity DOTS Skill Pack — Index

96 senior-level skills. Entities 1.4.x. Source: Unity-Technologies/EntityComponentSystemSamples.

Fast path: Read ROUTING.md first — match task keywords to a scenario, load 2–3 skills directly. Slow path: Use the keyword column below to find relevant skills, then load by name.

ECS Fundamentals

Skill	Keywords
`icomponentdata-value-component`	IComponentData, blittable struct, chunk layout, RefRO, RefRW
`tag-component`	tag component, zero-size, feature flag, marker component
`isystem-burst-compile`	ISystem, SystemBase, [BurstCompile], BurstDiscard, unmanaged system, bridge system
`systemapi-query-main-thread`	SystemAPI.Query, foreach, RefRW, RefRO, WithAll, WithNone, WithEntityAccess
`require-for-update-gate`	RequireForUpdate, prerequisite gate, feature flag, ExecuteXxx
`singleton-access`	GetSingleton, GetSingletonRW, config, registry, input state
`system-update-order`	UpdateInGroup, UpdateBefore, UpdateAfter, execution order
`world-system-filter`	World filter, WorldFlags, disable system, world-specific
`cross-entity-lookup`	ComponentLookup, BufferLookup, GetComponent, HasComponent
`fixed-step-simulation`	FixedStepSimulationSystemGroup, fixed timestep, deterministic
`managed-component-bridge`	managed IComponentData, UnityEngine.Object, bridge, MonoBehaviour ref

Baking & Authoring (Wave 2)

Skill	Keywords
`baker-authoring-conversion`	Baker, GetEntity, AddComponent, IBaker, authoring MonoBehaviour
`baker-depends-on`	DependsOn, baker dependency, incremental bake trigger
`baking-system`	BakingSystem, post-baking pass, baking world
`baking-type-component`	BakingType, bake-only component, editor-only data
`baking-type-cleanup-component`	BakingType + cleanup, bake-and-remove pattern
`baking-world-query-options`	EntityQueryOptions.IncludePrefab, IncludeDisabledEntities, baking query
`blob-asset-in-baker`	BlobAssetReference, blob builder, immutable baked data
`blob-asset-deduplication`	blob dedup, BlobAssetStore, identical blob sharing
`entity-prefab-reference`	prefab entity, baker prefab, Entity reference, instantiate
`multi-entity-baker`	CreateAdditionalEntity, multi-entity, baker child entities
`temporary-baking-type`	temporary baking component, bake-only lifetime
`transform-usage-flags`	TransformUsageFlags, Dynamic, Renderable, ManualOverride, None, archetype bloat
`auto-authoring`	auto-authoring, simplified baker, zero-config conversion

Entity Command Buffer (Wave 3)

Skill	Keywords
`entity-command-buffer`	ECB, EntityCommandBuffer, deferred, Playback, BeginSimulation
`ecb-system-timing`	ECB playback timing, BeginSimulationECB, EndSimulationECB, when playback fires
`ecb-parallel-writer`	ECB.ParallelWriter, parallel structural change, ChunkIndexInQuery sort key
`ecb-manual-immediate`	manual ECB, immediate playback, ECB.Dispose, owned ECB
`ecb-multiplayback`	multi-playback ECB, reuse ECB, PlaybackPolicy.MultiPlayback
`direct-entity-manager-structural-changes`	EntityManager, sync point, main thread structural change
`structural-change-cost-model`	archetype churn, structural change cost, batch vs deferred
`batch-structural-change-on-query`	batch structural, AddComponentMatchingEntities, query-batch
`toentityarray-snapshot-pattern`	ToEntityArray, snapshot, structural change during iteration
`icleanupcomponentdata-runtime`	ICleanupComponentData, two-phase teardown, orphan entity, DestroyEntity

Jobs & Native Containers (Wave 4)

Skill	Keywords
`ijobentity-parallel-job`	IJobEntity, Schedule, ScheduleParallel, job query
`ijobchunk-chunk-job`	IJobChunk, Execute chunk, ArchetypeChunk, chunk iteration
`job-dependency-chain`	state.Dependency, JobHandle, chain, dependency propagation
`wave4-ijobentity-advanced-patterns`	IJobEntity WithAll WithNone, ChunkIndexInQuery, EntityIndexInQuery
`wave4-ijobchunk-full-anatomy`	IJobChunk full, GetNativeArray, chunk components, useEnabledMask
`wave4-ijob-single-thread-offload`	IJob, single-threaded job, off main thread, background work
`wave4-ijobparallelfor-array-transform`	IJobParallelFor, array transform, per-index parallel
`wave4-burst-compilation-contract`	Burst contract, Burst-safe, no managed in Burst, BurstCompile rules
`wave4-jobhandle-combine-dependencies`	JobHandle.CombineDependencies, fan-in, multiple dependencies
`wave4-world-update-allocator-per-frame-native`	WorldUpdateAllocator, per-frame NativeArray, auto-free allocator
`wave4-native-parallel-multihashmap-parallel-writer`	NativeParallelMultiHashMap, parallel writer, concurrent writes
`wave4-native-disable-container-safety-restriction`	[NativeDisableContainerSafetyRestriction], alias containers, safety override
`wave4-entity-index-in-query-scatter-pattern`	EntityIndexInQuery, scatter write, per-entity index, NativeArray scatter
`wave4-systembase-with-inner-ijobentity`	SystemBase + IJobEntity, managed outer + Burst inner job
`wave4-unity-mathematics-random-per-entity`	Unity.Mathematics.Random, per-entity random, CreateFromIndex, deterministic RNG

Transforms & Hierarchy (Wave 5)

Skill	Keywords
`wave5-local-transform-write-pattern`	LocalTransform, write position rotation scale, transform mutation
`wave5-local-to-world-read-only-contract`	LocalToWorld, read-only, computed transform, do not write
`wave5-parent-child-hierarchy-dynamic`	Parent, Child, dynamic hierarchy, reparent, transform propagation
`wave5-post-transform-matrix-non-uniform-scale`	PostTransformMatrix, non-uniform scale, stretch, TRS matrix
`wave5-write-group-custom-transform`	WriteGroup, custom transform system, override TransformSystem
`wave5-chunk-did-change-incremental-update`	DidChange, chunk version, incremental update, change filter
`wave5-isystem-start-stop`	ISystem OnStartRunning, OnStopRunning, enabled system lifecycle

Physics (Wave 5)

Skill	Keywords
`wave5-physics-velocity-force-application`	PhysicsVelocity, force, impulse, dynamic body, linear angular
`wave5-physics-world-singleton-queries`	PhysicsWorld, singleton, raycast, overlap, CollisionWorld queries
`wave5-collision-filter-layer-masking`	CollisionFilter, layer mask, BelongsTo, CollidesWith
`wave5-stateful-physics-event-buffers`	StatefulTriggerEvent, StatefulCollisionEvent, persistent physics events
`wave5-fixed-step-simulation-system-group`	FixedStepSimulationSystemGroup, fixed step scheduling, physics update group

Enableable Components (Wave 6)

Skill	Keywords
`enableable-component`	IEnableableComponent, enableable, zero-size, hot toggle, no archetype churn
`wave6-enabled-ref-rw-in-job`	EnabledRefRW, EnabledRefRO, enable/disable in IJobEntity
`wave6-with-disabled-query-filter`	WithDisabled, query disabled entities, include disabled in query
`wave6-is-component-enabled-check`	IsComponentEnabled, HasComponent enabled check, SystemAPI enabled
`wave6-baker-set-component-enabled`	baker SetComponentEnabled, bake initially disabled
`wave6-ecb-set-component-enabled`	ECB SetComponentEnabled, deferred enable/disable
`wave6-entity-manager-set-component-enabled`	EntityManager SetComponentEnabled, immediate enable/disable
`wave6-zero-data-enableable-signal`	zero-data enableable, signal component, boolean state, pure flag
`wave6-ecs-state-machine-design`	ECS state machine, enum vs enableable vs structural, state decision model

Managed Components & Hybrid (Wave 7)

Skill	Keywords
`wave7-companion-go-lifecycle`	CompanionComponent, companion GameObject, entity-linked GO
`wave7-ecs-to-go-transform-sync`	ECS→GO transform sync, LocalToWorld→Transform, copy to GameObject
`wave7-add-component-object-hybrid-attach`	AddComponentObject, hybrid attach, managed component on entity
`wave7-idisposable-managed-component`	IDisposable managed component, cleanup, managed lifetime
`wave7-managed-singleton-pattern`	managed singleton, ScriptableObject ref in ECS, non-blittable singleton
`wave7-system-api-managed-api-query`	SystemAPI managed, GetComponentObject, managed query from ISystem
`wave7-unity-object-ref-blittable-asset`	UnityObjectRef, blittable Unity asset reference, Mesh Material reference
`wave7-unity-disable-managed-components-guard`	UNITY_DISABLE_MANAGED_COMPONENTS, managed component guard, stripping

Anti-Patterns & Debug (Wave 8)

Skill	Keywords
`wave8-handle-complete-sync-point-antipattern`	handle.Complete(), sync point, WaitForJobGroupID, main thread stall
`wave8-wrong-system-group-fixed-timestep`	wrong system group, fixed timestep, SimulationSystemGroup vs FixedStep
`wave8-ecb-system-group-mismatch`	ECB group mismatch, playback timing wrong, deferred commands missing
`wave8-enableable-component-query-mismatch`	query returns wrong entities, enabled/disabled mismatch, WithPresent
`wave8-dynamic-buffer-invalidation`	DynamicBuffer stale, buffer reference invalid after structural change
`wave8-ijobchunk-use-enabled-mask-guard`	IJobChunk enabled mask, useEnabledMask, skip disabled entities in chunk
`wave8-baker-dependency-registration`	baker dependency missing, incremental bake not triggered, DependsOn
`wave8-dependency-complete-editor-only-fence`	Dependency.Complete acceptable, editor-only fence, test sync

Pre-existing Skills (Wave 1 Originals)

Skill	Keywords
`dots-baking-patterns`	baking deep-dive, BakingDependencies, Baker multi-phase
`dots-ecb-orchestration`	ECB orchestration, BeginSimulation, EndSimulation, parallel writer
`dots-enableable-components`	enableable deep-dive, IEnableableComponent full guide
`dots-entity-lifecycle`	entity lifecycle, DestroyEntity, ICleanupComponentData, orphan
`dots-spawning-patterns`	spawning patterns, ECB.Instantiate, RequireForUpdate, Random spawn
`ecs-fundamentals-isystem-default`	ISystem vs SystemBase deep-dive, BurstDiscard trap
`ecs-fundamentals-transformusageflags`	TransformUsageFlags full guide, archetype bloat
`singleton-patterns-config-and-access`	singleton config deep-dive, prefab table, input state
`entity-query-patterns-systemapi-query`	SystemAPI.Query deep-dive, IJobEntity promotion
`entity-query-patterns-requireforupdate-gating`	RequireForUpdate deep-dive, feature flag gate, first-frame race

Authoring Rules

Senior-level only. No tutorial content.
Entities 1.x APIs only. Deprecated 0.x APIs get a "DO NOT USE" callout.
Each skill must answer: what does a senior DOTS engineer know that a junior doesn't?