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playcanvas-sync

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Real-time synchronization of files between PlayCanvas and your local machine

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# Overview

The `pcsync` utility allows editing copies of JavaScript and other textual files of a PlayCanvas project locally on your own computer, in a text editor of your choice.

`pcsync` also allows pushing and pulling of [binary files](#using-pcsync-for-binary-files), such as images and models.

In addition, if your project has a file called [`pcignore.txt`](#the-pcignoretxt-file), PlayCanvas merge will not affect the files listed in it, and the operation of `pcsync` will be restricted only to those files.

`pcsync` is used to push or pull one or all files to or from PlayCanvas (overwriting existing files with the same name/path), to compare one or all local files to their remote (PlayCanvas) versions, and to watch for local changes and sync them in real time.

Only the `pcsync pull` command (when downloading) and the `pcsync init` command (which creates or overwrites `pcconfig.json`) can change local files. All other `pcsync` commands change only remote files. Thus, apart from `pcconfig.json`, your local directory holds the authoritative version of your textual files.

The only scenario we do not support is when developer A uses `pcsync watch`, while developer B is editing files of the *same PlayCanvas branch* in the browser code editor. B's work will be overwritten by A, if they edit the same file. Either B should start using local files, or A should stop `pcsync watch` and switch to the browser code editor.

# The `pcsync` Utility

`pcsync` has the following commands:

```
  diff [file]                 compare local and remote files (all files if no file specified)
  pull [file]                 download remote files to local (all files if no file specified)
  push [file]                 upload local files to remote (all files if no file specified)
  rename <oldPath> <newPath>  rename or move a remote file or folder
  rm <path>                   remove a remote file or folder
  watch                       watch local directory and sync changes to remote in real-time
  ignore                      list assets matched by pcignore.txt
  init                        create a pcconfig.json in the current directory
```

## Global Options

The following options are available on all commands:

```
  -k, --api-key <key>     PlayCanvas API key (overrides config)
  -p, --project-id <id>   PlayCanvas project ID (overrides config)
  -b, --branch-id <id>    PlayCanvas branch ID (overrides config)
  -t, --target-dir <dir>  local target directory (overrides config)
      --base-url <url>    PlayCanvas API base URL (overrides config)
  -n, --dry-run           show what would happen without making changes
      --verbose           print detailed output including config values
  -V, --version           output the version number
  -h, --help              display help
```

These override the corresponding config file and environment variable values for the duration of the command, which is useful for CI/CD scripting or one-off operations.

## File Paths

A local directory [designated](#config-variables) as `PLAYCANVAS_TARGET_DIR` corresponds to the root of the PlayCanvas file and folder asset hierarchy.

All file and folder paths passed to `pcsync` as arguments should be relative to this root and use forward slashes even on Windows, e.g.

```
pcsync rename dir1/file1.js file1.js
```

will move `file1.js` to the root asset directory.

## Command Details

### `pcsync diff [file]`

Without a file argument, compares all local and remote files and folders. With a file argument, shows a line-by-line diff of that specific file.

Options for comparing all files:

```
  -r, --regexp <pattern>   filter files matching the provided regular expression
  -e, --ext <extensions>   filter files by extension (comma-separated, e.g. jpg,png)
```

### `pcsync pull [file]`

Without a file argument, downloads all remote files, overwriting their local counterparts. With a file argument, downloads that single remote file, creating local folders if needed.

Options for downloading all files:

```
  -r, --regexp <pattern>   filter files matching the provided regular expression
  -e, --ext <extensions>   filter files by extension (comma-separated, e.g. jpg,png)
  -y, --yes                skip confirmation prompt
```

### `pcsync push [file]`

Without a file argument, uploads all local files, overwriting their remote counterparts. With a file argument, uploads that single local file, creating remote folders if needed.

Options for uploading all files:

```
  -r, --regexp <pattern>   filter files matching the provided regular expression
  -e, --ext <extensions>   filter files by extension (comma-separated, e.g. jpg,png)
  -y, --yes                skip confirmation prompt
```

### `pcsync rename <oldPath> <newPath>`

Rename or move a remote file or folder. Changes the parent folder if needed.

### `pcsync rm <path>`

Remove a remote file or folder.

### `pcsync watch`

Watch the local directory for changes and sync them to remote in real time.

```
  -f, --force   skip local/remote equality and multi-instance checks
```

Moving or renaming a file or a folder will appear to `pcsync watch` as a `remove + create`. In such cases it may be better to stop `pcsync watch`, perform the operation locally, apply it to PlayCanvas with `pcsync rename`, and start `pcsync watch` again.

### `pcsync ignore`

List all assets matched by your current `pcignore.txt`. Useful for checking your `pcignore.txt` syntax.

### `pcsync init`

Interactive setup wizard that creates a `pcconfig.json` in the current directory. Prompts for API key, project ID, branch ID and target directory.

# Adding New Files as Script Components

Assume file F was created locally and pushed to PlayCanvas with `pcsync`, and now you are adding F as a script component to an entity in PlayCanvas Editor.

Note that it will take a second or two for F to appear in the dropdown list, because F is parsed by the editor for the first time when that list is populated.

# The `pcignore.txt` File

If your project has a file called `pcignore.txt` in the root folder, any file listed there will be the same before and after a PlayCanvas merge.

The operation of `pcsync` is restricted to the files listed in `pcignore.txt`, if `pcignore.txt` exists. This ensures that the set of files managed locally exactly matches the set ignored by PlayCanvas merge, which is appropriate for most workflows.

To make `pcsync` work with more files than listed in `pcignore.txt`, use the `PLAYCANVAS_INCLUDE_REG` config variable, which is a regular expression to test each file's path from the root of the asset hierarchy.

Before a PlayCanvas merge, make sure that the latest checkpoint of the destination branch is taken after `pcignore.txt` was added.

If you are using git for your textual files, you can perform a git merge before a PlayCanvas merge of the corresponding branches, push the result to the PlayCanvas destination branch, and then perform a PlayCanvas merge.

## `pcignore.txt` Syntax

`pcignore.txt` consists of one or more lines, each of which is either a path (with the same syntax as .gitignore), or one of the following:

```
ignore_all_textual_files
ignore_all_js_files
ignore_all_files_with_extension <extension1,extension2,...>
ignore_regexp <regexp string>
source_branch_wins
```

`ignore_all_textual_files` is the most common choice.

`source_branch_wins` (included once anywhere) changes the PlayCanvas merge behavior: instead of keeping items matching `pcignore.txt` as is (in the destination branch), the merge result will now include the versions of the corresponding items (if present) from the source branch.

Multiple `ignore_regexp` lines can be provided. Any textual asset whose path from the root of the asset hierarchy matches an `ignore_regexp` expression will be ignored.

To check your `pcignore.txt` syntax, you can run `pcsync ignore`. It will list all existing files that match your current `pcignore.txt`.

Use a space and not * or ? to match a space in a file or folder name in gitignore lines.

# Using `pcsync` for Binary Files

Binary files include assets such as textures (JPG and PNG) and models (GLB).

`push`, `pull` (with a single file argument) and `rm` work with binary file arguments without any special options.

When running `push`, `pull` or `diff` without a file argument, you can use the `-r` or `-e` options to include binary files (without these options `pcsync` only works with textual files):

```
  -e, --ext <extensions>  filter files by extension (comma-separated)
  -r, --regexp <pattern>  filter files matching the provided regular expression
```

For instance:

```
pcsync diff -e jpeg,png
pcsync push -r "\\.(png|jpeg)"
```

The regular expression tests each file's path from the root.

# Installation

Requires Node.js >= 20. We recommend using [nvm](https://github.com/nvm-sh/nvm) to manage Node versions.

Install globally from npm:

```
npm install -g playcanvas-sync
```

This makes the `pcsync` command available system-wide.

To uninstall:

```
npm uninstall -g playcanvas-sync
```

## Quick Start

After installation, the fastest way to get started is:

```
mkdir my-project && cd my-project
pcsync init
pcsync pull
```

# Config Variables

Config variables can be set in a file called `.pcconfig` in your home directory, in `pcconfig.json` in your target directory (and your remote PlayCanvas branch), provided as environment variables, or passed as CLI options (which have the highest precedence).

The precedence order (highest to lowest) is:

1. CLI options (`--api-key`, `--project-id`, etc.)
2. Environment variables (`PLAYCANVAS_API_KEY`, etc.)
3. Config files (`.pcconfig`, `pcconfig.json`)
4. Built-in defaults

The home directory location is:

* Windows: `C:\Users\<username>`
* Mac/Linux: `/Users/<username>` or `/home/<username>`

## Getting Your API Key

Get your PlayCanvas API key (token) from your PlayCanvas account page (playcanvas.com/&lt;username&gt;/account). See the [User Manual](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/api/#authorization) for detailed instructions.

## Getting Your Branch and Project IDs

From the Chrome Developer Tools console (on the PlayCanvas Editor page) run:

```
copy({
  PLAYCANVAS_BRANCH_ID: config.self.branch.id,
  PLAYCANVAS_PROJECT_ID: config.project.id
})
```

This will copy your branch and project id to the clipboard.

![](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/playcanvas/playcanvas-sync/main/docs/images/branch-id-project-id-clipboard.gif)

Alternatively, you can get your branch id from the Version Control Panel of the PlayCanvas Editor, and your project id from its home page url, e.g. for `playcanvas.com/project/10/overview/test_proj` the id is 10. See the [User Manual](https://developer.playcanvas.com/user-manual/api/#parameters) for more details.

## Sample Config File

Create a directory for the local versions of your PlayCanvas files, e.g. `proj1`. Add its full path to `.pcconfig` in your home directory, along with your API key and the branch/project IDs.

A sample `.pcconfig` should look like this:

```
{
  "PLAYCANVAS_BRANCH_ID": "abc",
  "PLAYCANVAS_PROJECT_ID": 10,
  "PLAYCANVAS_TARGET_DIR": "/Users/zpaul/proj1",
  "PLAYCANVAS_API_KEY": "xyz",
  "PLAYCANVAS_BAD_FILE_REG": "^\\.|~$",
  "PLAYCANVAS_BAD_FOLDER_REG": "\\.",
  "PLAYCANVAS_CONVERT_TO_POW2": 0
}
```

All listed key-value pairs are necessary. You can split them between `.pcconfig` (in your home directory), `pcconfig.json` (in your project target directory), and environment variables.

Alternatively, use `pcsync init` to generate a `pcconfig.json` interactively.

`PLAYCANVAS_TARGET_DIR` can only be set in `.pcconfig`, an environment variable, or via `--target-dir`. You can also set `PLAYCANVAS_USE_CWD_AS_TARGET` to `1` in `.pcconfig` to use your current working directory as your target.

For some workflows, it may be necessary to keep the `pcconfig.json` file at the top level in the target directory, but treat one of its subdirectories as the root of the local file hierarchy. In such cases `PLAYCANVAS_TARGET_SUBDIR` needs to be provided, e.g.

```
"PLAYCANVAS_TARGET_SUBDIR": "src"
```

Backslash characters should be written as `\\` (escaped).

# Files and Folders to Exclude

Many text editors and operating systems create local auxiliary files and directories that do not need to be automatically pushed to PlayCanvas.

`PLAYCANVAS_BAD_FILE_REG` and `PLAYCANVAS_BAD_FOLDER_REG` contain RegExp strings (note the escapes) that tell `pcsync watch` which files and directories to ignore. In our sample `.pcconfig`, a bad file has a name that starts with a dot or ends with `~`. A bad folder is one that has a dot anywhere in its path relative to `PLAYCANVAS_TARGET_DIR`. The expressions provided are sufficient in most cases, and you can simply copy them into your `.pcconfig`.

To determine which auxiliary files and folders your OS and text editor create, run `pcsync watch` with the `--verbose` and `--dry-run` flags, and create/edit some files.

```
pcsync watch --verbose --dry-run
```

The output will show all file system events as they happen, and which of them will be filtered out by your current `PLAYCANVAS_BAD_FILE_REG` and `PLAYCANVAS_BAD_FOLDER_REG`.

If in your case no bad files and folders exist, use a string like `"matchNothing"` as the value of `PLAYCANVAS_BAD_FILE_REG` and/or `PLAYCANVAS_BAD_FOLDER_REG`.

# Troubleshooting

Problems are often caused by setting config variables incorrectly. Execute your command with `--verbose` to print the current values of all config variables and other useful data:

```
pcsync diff --verbose
```

# Sample Workflows

## Case 1: Single user per PlayCanvas branch, without `git`

* Run `pcsync pull` to download existing textual files from PlayCanvas
* Launch `pcsync watch`
* Start editing/creating files locally in your own text editor

To merge changes from another PlayCanvas branch into your branch without `git`:

* Stop `pcsync watch`
* Run `pcsync diff`, and, if necessary, `pcsync push` to make sure the PlayCanvas version is up-to-date.
* Perform merge in PlayCanvas
* Use `pcsync pull` to download the merge result

## Case 2: Single user per PlayCanvas branch, with `git`

* Create your own PlayCanvas branch of your team's project
* Create a git branch for your work, and make it your local target directory
* Create a [`pcignore.txt`](#the-pcignoretxt-file) file, listing all files you intend to keep in git, create a PlayCanvas checkpoint that includes your `pcignore.txt`
* Launch `pcsync watch`
* Start editing/creating files locally in your own text editor
* When necessary, merge in `git` the branch of another group member into your branch
* Use `pcsync push` to update your remote branch after git merge
* Merge the same branches in PlayCanvas
* Use `pcsync diff` to verify that local and remote files are still in sync

## Case 3: Multiple users working on the same PlayCanvas branch, with `git`

Most items from Case 1 apply, also:

* Periodically run `pcsync diff`. It is usually OK to see extra remote files (coming from other team members). If you notice that a remote file is different from your local file, consider a `git` merge to include your team member's changes into your `git` branch, resolve conflicts in `git`, if any, as usual.
* Avoid `pcsync pull`. To get others' files/changes into your branch, use `git` merge instead to maintain an accurate `git` history of edits to each file (who added what).

# Using TypeScript

## TypeScript Bindings

You can build TypeScript Bindings from the PlayCanvas engine repo (branch `stable`) as mentioned in the [instructions here](https://github.com/playcanvas/engine):

```
npm run build:types
```

This will generate the file `build/output/playcanvas.d.ts` in your engine folder.

## TypeScript Workflow

TypeScript source files are usually compiled into a single JavaScript file, which is then used in a PlayCanvas project.

This JavaScript file can be added to your [`pcignore.txt`](#the-pcignoretxt-file) to prevent PlayCanvas merge from reporting conflicts in it.

If you are storing your TypeScript source files in git, there is no need to include them in your PlayCanvas project.

# Setting up Visual Studio Code for local editing on Mac

Copy the file `playcanvas.d.ts` with [TypeScript bindings for the PlayCanvas engine](#typescript-bindings) to a folder called `typings` in your target directory.

Create a `jsconfig.json` file in your target directory with the following content:

```
{
    "compilerOptions": {
        "target": "ES5",
        "module": "commonjs",
        "files": [
            "typings/playcanvas.d.ts"
        ]
    }
}
```

Your folder structure should look like this:

![](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/playcanvas/playcanvas-sync/main/docs/images/vscode-target-directory-file-structure.png)

Add `jsconfig.json` and `typings` to `PLAYCANVAS_BAD_FILE_REG` and `PLAYCANVAS_BAD_FOLDER_REG`, e.g.

```
"PLAYCANVAS_BAD_FILE_REG": "^\\.|~$|jsconfig.json",
"PLAYCANVAS_BAD_FOLDER_REG": "^\\.|typings"
```

Now you are ready to start using `pcsync` to sync your PlayCanvas project and edit with VS Code goodness 🚀

![](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/playcanvas/playcanvas-sync/main/docs/images/vs-code-demo.gif)

# Migrating from v2

If you are upgrading from v2, note the following changes:

| v2 Command | v3 Command | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| `pcsync diffAll` | `pcsync diff` | No file argument = all files |
| `pcsync diff <file>` | `pcsync diff <file>` | Unchanged |
| `pcsync pullAll` | `pcsync pull` | No file argument = all files |
| `pcsync pull <file>` | `pcsync pull <file>` | Unchanged |
| `pcsync pushAll` | `pcsync push` | No file argument = all files |
| `pcsync push <file>` | `pcsync push <file>` | Unchanged |
| `pcsync parseIgnore` | `pcsync ignore` | Renamed |
| `pcwatch` | `pcsync watch` | Now a subcommand |
| `pcwatch -f` | `pcsync watch --force` | Unchanged flag |

The old commands (`diffAll`, `pullAll`, `pushAll`, `parseIgnore`) still work but print a deprecation warning. The standalone `pcwatch` binary also still works with a deprecation warning. Both will be removed in a future major version.

New features in v3:

* **`--version`**: Check which version is installed
* **`--dry-run`**: See what would happen without making changes (previously config-only)
* **`--verbose`**: Detailed output including config values (previously config-only)
* **CLI config overrides**: `--api-key`, `--project-id`, `--branch-id`, `--target-dir`, `--base-url`
* **`pcsync init`**: Interactive setup wizard for `pcconfig.json`

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