Let a value be a bundle of named fields

PropertyValue was number | string | boolean | list. A struct joins it, which
costs two things the typechecker found rather than I did.

An object on a data edge used to mean a live entity, so asEntity would have
taken a struct for one and asString would have read .name off it. EntityHandle
now carries a symbol brand – a symbol so no field name can impersonate it, and
it never serializes, which suits a thing that exists only while the game runs.
It is built in exactly one place.

String(value) would have written a struct as [object Object] at 39 call sites.
They go through textOf(), which is identical for primitives.

normalizeGraph dropped everything but primitives from node params, so the List
node lost its value on every save ([3,1,4] round-tripped to undefined).
Variables were spared: they have a schema, params have none.

src/core/graph/Graph.ts

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { PropertyBag } from '../model/Properties';
 
 /** `exec` carries control flow, the others values; `any` accepts every value type. */
-export type PortType = 'exec' | 'number' | 'boolean' | 'string' | 'object' | 'list' | 'any';
+export type PortType = 'exec' | 'number' | 'boolean' | 'string' | 'object' | 'list' | 'struct' | 'any';
 
 export interface PortRef {
   node: string;
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ export interface GraphNode {
   y: number;
   params: PropertyBag;
   /**
-   * Ports the node declares itself, on top of the fixed ones of its type. Only the behavior
-   * start/end nodes carry this – they are what gives a nested behavior its signature.
+   * Ports the node declares itself, on top of the fixed ones of its type; the types that have
+   * them say so with `NodeDef.declaresPorts`. A behavior's start/end node is what gives the
+   * behavior its signature; an Expand/Pack node is what gives a struct its fields.
    */
   ports?: DeclaredPort[];
 }
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ export interface DeclaredPort {
   kind: DeclaredPortKind;
 }
 
-export const DECLARED_PORT_KINDS = ['number', 'boolean', 'text', 'object', 'list'] as const;
+export const DECLARED_PORT_KINDS = ['number', 'boolean', 'text', 'object', 'list', 'struct'] as const;
 export type DeclaredPortKind = (typeof DECLARED_PORT_KINDS)[number];
 
 export function declaredPortType(kind: DeclaredPortKind): PortType {

src/core/graph/NodeContext.ts

@@ -2,11 +2,19 @@ import type { PropertyBag } from '../model/Properties';
 import { sumAlongChain } from '../model/walk';
 import { enabledAlongChain } from '../properties/enabled';
 
+/**
+ * Marks a live entity apart from a struct value: both reach a data edge as an object. A symbol
+ * rather than a field, so no struct field name can impersonate it – and it never serializes,
+ * which is right for a thing that exists only while the game runs.
+ */
+export const ENTITY_HANDLE: unique symbol = Symbol('entity handle');
+
 /**
  * What a graph sees of a running entity; the runtime's Entity satisfies this shape. Mutating
  * `x`/`y`/`props` is how actions take effect.
  */
 export interface EntityHandle {
+  readonly [ENTITY_HANDLE]: true;
   id: string;
   assetId: string;
   name: string;

src/core/graph/NodeRegistry.ts

@@ -93,9 +93,12 @@ export function hasExecInput(def: NodeDef): boolean {
   return def.inputs.some((p) => p.type === 'exec');
 }
 
-/** Data inputs that may carry an inline value while unconnected. */
+/**
+ * Data inputs that may carry an inline value while unconnected. An object is a live handle and a
+ * struct is assembled from its parts, so neither has a value that could be typed on one line.
+ */
 export function inlineInputs(def: NodeDef): PortDef[] {
-  return def.inputs.filter((p) => p.type !== 'exec' && p.type !== 'object');
+  return def.inputs.filter((p) => p.type !== 'exec' && p.type !== 'object' && p.type !== 'struct');
 }
 
 export function inlineInputDef(port: PortDef): PropertyDef {

src/core/graph/nested.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import type { PropertyBag } from '../model/Properties';
+import { type PropertyBag, textOf } from '../model/Properties';
 import { type DeclaredPort, declaredPortType, type Graph, type GraphNode } from './Graph';
 import { nodeDef, type NodeDef, type PortDef } from './NodeRegistry';
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ export function resolveDef(node: GraphNode, lookup: BehaviorLookup): NodeDef | u
  */
 export function callProblem(node: GraphNode, lookup: BehaviorLookup, ownerId = ''): string | null {
   if (node.type !== RUN_BEHAVIOR) return null;
-  const id = String(node.params[BEHAVIOR_PARAM] ?? '');
+  const id = textOf(node.params[BEHAVIOR_PARAM] ?? '');
   if (!id) return 'No behavior picked';
   if (id === ownerId) return 'A behavior cannot run itself';
   const program = lookup(id);

src/core/graph/nodes/action/SetProperty.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { NodeDef } from '../../NodeRegistry';
 import { asEntity, writeTyped } from '../../values';
 import { any, exec, obj } from '../shared';
 
+import { textOf } from '../../../model/Properties';
 export const SetProperty: NodeDef = {
   type: 'SetProperty',
   label: 'Set property',
@@ -12,7 +13,7 @@ export const SetProperty: NodeDef = {
   params: [{ key: 'property', label: 'Property', kind: 'text', default: 'width' }],
   run: (_ctx, inputs, params) => {
     const target = asEntity(inputs.object);
-    const key = String(params.property ?? '');
+    const key = textOf(params.property ?? '');
     if (target && key) writeTyped(target.props, key, inputs.value);
     return { next: 'exec' };
   },

src/core/graph/nodes/action/Spawn.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { NodeDef } from '../../NodeRegistry';
 import { asEntity, asNumber } from '../../values';
 import { assetParam, exec, num, obj } from '../shared';
 
+import { textOf } from '../../../model/Properties';
 export const Spawn: NodeDef = {
   type: 'Spawn',
   label: 'Spawn',
@@ -13,7 +14,7 @@ export const Spawn: NodeDef = {
   outputs: [exec(), obj('object')],
   params: [assetParam],
   run: (ctx, inputs, params) => {
-    const assetId = String(params.asset ?? '');
+    const assetId = textOf(params.asset ?? '');
     const position = { x: asNumber(inputs.x), y: asNumber(inputs.y), z: asNumber(inputs.z) };
     const spawned = assetId ? ctx.spawn(assetId, position, asEntity(inputs.parent)) : null;
     if (!spawned) ctx.log(assetId ? `Spawn: asset ${assetId} not found` : 'Spawn: no asset selected');

src/core/graph/nodes/data/AxisInput.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import type { NodeDef } from '../../NodeRegistry';
 import { bool, normalize, num } from '../shared';
 
+import { textOf } from '../../../model/Properties';
 export const AxisInput: NodeDef = {
   type: 'AxisInput',
   label: 'Axis input',
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ export const AxisInput: NodeDef = {
     { key: 'down', label: 'Down', kind: 'key', default: 'ArrowDown' },
   ],
   run: (ctx, _inputs, params) => {
-    const held = (key: string, fallback: string) => (ctx.isKeyDown(String(params[key] ?? fallback)) ? 1 : 0);
+    const held = (key: string, fallback: string) => (ctx.isKeyDown(textOf(params[key] ?? fallback)) ? 1 : 0);
     const dx = held('right', 'ArrowRight') - held('left', 'ArrowLeft');
     const dy = held('down', 'ArrowDown') - held('up', 'ArrowUp');
     const { x, y, length } = normalize(dx, dy);

src/core/graph/nodes/data/Compare.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { NodeDef } from '../../NodeRegistry';
 import { asNumber } from '../../values';
 import { bool, num } from '../shared';
 
+import { textOf } from '../../../model/Properties';
 const OPERATORS: Record<string, (a: number, b: number) => boolean> = {
   '==': (a, b) => a === b,
   '!=': (a, b) => a !== b,
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ export const Compare: NodeDef = {
   run: (_ctx, inputs, params) => {
     // The fallback matches the param's declared default, so a node with no setting behaves
     // like a freshly created one.
-    const compare = OPERATORS[String(params.op)] ?? OPERATORS['<']!;
+    const compare = OPERATORS[textOf(params.op)] ?? OPERATORS['<']!;
     return { outputs: { result: compare(asNumber(inputs.a), asNumber(inputs.b)) } };
   },
 };

src/core/graph/nodes/data/GetProperty.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { NodeDef } from '../../NodeRegistry';
 import { asEntity } from '../../values';
 import { any, obj } from '../shared';
 
+import { textOf } from '../../../model/Properties';
 export const GetProperty: NodeDef = {
   type: 'GetProperty',
   label: 'Get property',
@@ -11,6 +12,6 @@ export const GetProperty: NodeDef = {
   outputs: [any('value')],
   params: [{ key: 'property', label: 'Property', kind: 'text', default: 'width' }],
   run: (_ctx, inputs, params) => ({
-    outputs: { value: asEntity(inputs.object)?.props[String(params.property ?? '')] ?? null },
+    outputs: { value: asEntity(inputs.object)?.props[textOf(params.property ?? '')] ?? null },
   }),
 };

src/core/graph/nodes/data/IsAsset.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { NodeDef } from '../../NodeRegistry';
 import { asEntity } from '../../values';
 import { assetParam, bool, obj } from '../shared';
 
+import { textOf } from '../../../model/Properties';
 export const IsAsset: NodeDef = {
   type: 'IsAsset',
   label: 'Is asset',
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ export const IsAsset: NodeDef = {
   outputs: [bool('result')],
   params: [assetParam],
   run: (_ctx, inputs, params) => {
-    const assetId = String(params.asset ?? '');
+    const assetId = textOf(params.asset ?? '');
     return { outputs: { result: Boolean(assetId) && asEntity(inputs.object)?.assetId === assetId } };
   },
 };

src/core/graph/nodes/data/KeyIsDown.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import type { NodeDef } from '../../NodeRegistry';
 import { bool, keyParam } from '../shared';
 
+import { textOf } from '../../../model/Properties';
 export const KeyIsDown: NodeDef = {
   type: 'KeyIsDown',
   label: 'Key is down',
@@ -9,5 +10,5 @@ export const KeyIsDown: NodeDef = {
   inputs: [],
   outputs: [bool('down')],
   params: [keyParam],
-  run: (ctx, _inputs, params) => ({ outputs: { down: ctx.isKeyDown(String(params.key ?? '')) } }),
+  run: (ctx, _inputs, params) => ({ outputs: { down: ctx.isKeyDown(textOf(params.key ?? '')) } }),
 };

src/core/graph/nodes/shared.ts

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export const bool = (key: string, label = key): PortDef => ({ key, label, type:
 export const str = (key: string, label = key): PortDef => ({ key, label, type: 'string' });
 export const obj = (key: string, label = key): PortDef => ({ key, label, type: 'object' });
 export const list = (key: string, label = key): PortDef => ({ key, label, type: 'list' });
+export const struct = (key: string, label = key): PortDef => ({ key, label, type: 'struct' });
 export const any = (key: string, label = key): PortDef => ({ key, label, type: 'any' });
 
 export const withDefault = (port: PortDef, value: PropertyValue): PortDef => ({ ...port, default: value });

src/core/graph/nodes/variable/GetVariable.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import type { NodeDef } from '../../NodeRegistry';
 import { any, variableParam } from '../shared';
 
+import { textOf } from '../../../model/Properties';
 export const GetVariable: NodeDef = {
   type: 'GetVariable',
   label: 'Get variable',
@@ -10,6 +11,6 @@ export const GetVariable: NodeDef = {
   outputs: [any('value')],
   params: [variableParam],
   run: (ctx, _inputs, params) => ({
-    outputs: { value: ctx.variables[String(params.variable ?? '')] ?? null },
+    outputs: { value: ctx.variables[textOf(params.variable ?? '')] ?? null },
   }),
 };

src/core/graph/nodes/variable/SetVariable.ts

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import type { NodeDef } from '../../NodeRegistry';
 import { writeTyped } from '../../values';
 import { any, exec, variableParam } from '../shared';
 
+import { textOf } from '../../../model/Properties';
 export const SetVariable: NodeDef = {
   type: 'SetVariable',
   label: 'Set variable',
@@ -11,7 +12,7 @@ export const SetVariable: NodeDef = {
   outputs: [exec()],
   params: [variableParam],
   run: (ctx, inputs, params) => {
-    const key = String(params.variable ?? '');
+    const key = textOf(params.variable ?? '');
     if (key) writeTyped(ctx.variables, key, inputs.value);
     return { next: 'exec' };
   },

src/core/graph/values.ts

@@ -1,9 +1,22 @@
-import { isList, type ListValue, type PropertyBag, type PropertyValue } from '../model/Properties';
-import type { EntityHandle } from './NodeContext';
+import {
+  type FieldValue,
+  isList,
+  isStruct,
+  type ListValue,
+  type PropertyBag,
+  type PropertyValue,
+  type StructValue,
+  textOf,
+} from '../model/Properties';
+import { ENTITY_HANDLE, type EntityHandle } from './NodeContext';
 
 /** A value travelling along a data edge. Objects are live entity handles (play mode only). */
 export type Value = PropertyValue | EntityHandle | null;
 
+export function isEntity(value: Value | undefined): value is EntityHandle {
+  return typeof value === 'object' && value !== null && ENTITY_HANDLE in value;
+}
+
 export function asNumber(value: Value | undefined): number {
   if (typeof value === 'number') return value;
   if (typeof value === 'boolean') return value ? 1 : 0;
@@ -12,6 +25,8 @@ export function asNumber(value: Value | undefined): number {
     return Number.isFinite(n) ? n : 0;
   }
   if (isList(value)) return value.length;
+  // A bundle counts as its parts, the same way a list counts as its items.
+  if (isStructValue(value)) return Object.keys(value).length;
   return 0;
 }
 
@@ -19,7 +34,9 @@ export function asNumber(value: Value | undefined): number {
 export function asList(value: Value | undefined): ListValue {
   if (isList(value)) return value;
   if (value === null || value === undefined) return [];
-  return typeof value === 'object' ? [value.name] : [value];
+  if (isEntity(value)) return [value.name];
+  if (isStructValue(value)) return Object.values(value).map(asListItem);
+  return [value];
 }
 
 /** A value narrowed to what a list may hold: handles and nested lists have no stored form. */
@@ -29,6 +46,11 @@ export function asListItem(value: Value | undefined): number | string | boolean
   return asString(value);
 }
 
+/** A value narrowed to what a struct field may hold: a list stays a list, anything deeper flattens. */
+export function asField(value: Value | undefined): FieldValue {
+  return isList(value) ? value : asListItem(value);
+}
+
 export function asBoolean(value: Value | undefined): boolean {
   if (typeof value === 'string') return value !== '' && value !== 'false' && value !== '0';
   return Boolean(value);
@@ -36,15 +58,42 @@ export function asBoolean(value: Value | undefined): boolean {
 
 /** Entities read as their name, so a handle can be logged or joined into text directly. */
 export function asString(value: Value | undefined): string {
-  if (value === null || value === undefined) return '';
-  if (isList(value)) return value.join(', ');
-  if (typeof value === 'object') return value.name;
-  return String(value);
+  if (value === null) return '';
+  return isEntity(value) ? value.name : textOf(value);
 }
 
 export function asEntity(value: Value | undefined): EntityHandle | null {
-  if (!value || typeof value !== 'object' || isList(value)) return null;
-  return value;
+  return isEntity(value) ? value : null;
+}
+
+/** A struct value, or the empty one: a number has no fields to become, so nothing is invented. */
+export function asStruct(value: Value | undefined): StructValue {
+  return isStructValue(value) ? value : {};
+}
+
+function isStructValue(value: Value | undefined): value is StructValue {
+  return !isEntity(value) && isStruct(value);
+}
+
+/**
+ * A struct slot keeps the fields it was declared with: what arrives fills the ones it names and
+ * the rest stay put. That is what lets one node set some values of a bundle without erasing it.
+ */
+export function mergeStruct(current: StructValue, value: Value | undefined): StructValue {
+  const incoming = asStruct(value);
+  const merged: Record<string, PropertyValue> = {};
+  for (const [field, own] of Object.entries(current))
+    merged[field] = field in incoming ? asTypeOf(own, incoming[field]) : own;
+  return merged as StructValue;
+}
+
+/** `value` converted to the type the slot already holds, so a number stays a number. */
+export function asTypeOf(current: PropertyValue | undefined, value: Value | undefined): PropertyValue {
+  if (isList(current)) return asList(value);
+  if (isStruct(current)) return mergeStruct(current, value);
+  if (typeof current === 'number') return asNumber(value);
+  if (typeof current === 'boolean') return asBoolean(value);
+  return asString(value);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -52,9 +101,5 @@ export function asEntity(value: Value | undefined): EntityHandle | null {
  * variable stays a number no matter what arrives on an `any` input.
  */
 export function writeTyped(bag: PropertyBag, key: string, value: Value | undefined): void {
-  const current = bag[key];
-  if (isList(current)) bag[key] = asList(value);
-  else if (typeof current === 'number') bag[key] = asNumber(value);
-  else if (typeof current === 'boolean') bag[key] = asBoolean(value);
-  else bag[key] = asString(value);
+  bag[key] = asTypeOf(bag[key], value);
 }

src/core/model/Properties.ts

@@ -4,19 +4,52 @@
  */
 export type ListValue = readonly (number | string | boolean)[];
 
+/** What a struct field may hold: no field is itself a struct, for the same reason a list is flat. */
+export type FieldValue = number | string | boolean | ListValue;
+
+/** Several named values travelling as one, so a bundle needs one port instead of one per part. */
+export type StructValue = { readonly [field: string]: FieldValue };
+
 /** Colors are stored as 0xRRGGBB numbers. */
-export type PropertyValue = number | string | boolean | ListValue;
+export type PropertyValue = FieldValue | StructValue;
 
 export type PropertyBag = Record<string, PropertyValue>;
 
 export const isList = (value: unknown): value is ListValue => Array.isArray(value);
 
-/** Values are compared by content, because two equal lists are never the same array. */
+/**
+ * Model-level only: a live entity handle is an object too, and the graph tells the two apart by
+ * the handle's brand (see `values.ts`). Nothing in a PropertyBag is ever a handle.
+ */
+export const isStruct = (value: unknown): value is StructValue =>
+  typeof value === 'object' && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
+
+/**
+ * A property value as text. Nothing may hand a PropertyValue to `String()` directly: a struct would
+ * come out as "[object Object]" and a list without separators.
+ */
+export function textOf(value: PropertyValue | undefined): string {
+  if (value === undefined) return '';
+  if (isList(value)) return value.join(', ');
+  if (isStruct(value))
+    return Object.entries(value)
+      .map(([field, item]) => `${field}: ${textOf(item)}`)
+      .join(', ');
+  return String(value);
+}
+
+/** Values are compared by content, because two equal lists (or structs) are never the same object. */
 export function sameValue(a: PropertyValue | undefined, b: PropertyValue | undefined): boolean {
   if (isList(a) || isList(b)) {
     if (!isList(a) || !isList(b) || a.length !== b.length) return false;
     return a.every((item, i) => item === b[i]);
   }
+  if (isStruct(a) || isStruct(b)) {
+    if (!isStruct(a) || !isStruct(b)) return false;
+    const keys = Object.keys(a);
+    // Fields are never structs, so this recurses exactly one level deep.
+    return keys.length === Object.keys(b).length && keys.every((key) => sameValue(a[key], b[key]));
+  }
   return a === b;
 }
 

src/core/model/texture.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type { TextureAsset, TextureFrame } from './Asset';
-import type { PropertyBag } from './Properties';
+import { type PropertyBag, textOf } from './Properties';
 import { findAsset, type Project } from './Project';
 
 /** Mirrors `TextureStore::isValidName` on the server, where the name is derived from the bytes. */
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ export function textureRefIds(asset: TextureAsset): string[] {
 }
 
 export function resolveTexture(project: Project, props: PropertyBag): TextureRef | null {
-  const id = String(props.texture ?? '');
+  const id = textOf(props.texture ?? '');
   if (!id) return null;
   const asset = findAsset(project, id);
   if (asset) return asset.type === 'texture' ? refFor(asset, null) : null;
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ function refFor(asset: TextureAsset, frame: TextureFrame | null): TextureRef | n
   if (!isTextureFile(asset.file)) return null;
   return {
     file: asset.file,
-    smooth: String(asset.props.filter ?? 'linear') !== 'nearest',
+    smooth: textOf(asset.props.filter ?? 'linear') !== 'nearest',
     rect: frame ? { x: frame.x, y: frame.y, w: frame.w, h: frame.h } : null,
     sourceWidth: asset.width,
     sourceHeight: asset.height,

src/core/properties/PropertySchema.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 import type { Asset } from '../model/Asset';
 import { type AssetType, isPlaceableType } from '../model/AssetTypes';
-import { isList, type ListValue, type PropertyBag, type PropertyValue } from '../model/Properties';
+import {
+  type FieldValue,
+  isList,
+  type ListValue,
+  type PropertyBag,
+  type PropertyValue,
+  textOf,
+} from '../model/Properties';
 
 /** The inspector is generated from these entries, so a new property is one line in a schema below. */
 export type PropertyDef =
@@ -176,7 +183,7 @@ export function variableDef(
     case 'boolean':
       return { key, label: key, kind, default: Boolean(defaultValue ?? false) };
     case 'text':
-      return { key, label: key, kind, default: defaultValue === undefined ? '' : String(defaultValue) };
+      return { key, label: key, kind, default: defaultValue === undefined ? '' : textOf(defaultValue) };
     case 'list':
       return {
         key,
@@ -189,7 +196,7 @@ export function variableDef(
 }
 
 /** Clamps / coerces a raw value so it satisfies the definition. */
-export function coerceValue(def: PropertyDef, value: PropertyValue): PropertyValue {
+export function coerceValue(def: PropertyDef, value: PropertyValue): FieldValue {
   switch (def.kind) {
     case 'number': {
       let n = typeof value === 'number' ? value : Number(value);
@@ -199,7 +206,7 @@ export function coerceValue(def: PropertyDef, value: PropertyValue): PropertyVal
       return n;
     }
     case 'color': {
-      const n = typeof value === 'number' ? value : parseInt(String(value).replace('#', ''), 16);
+      const n = typeof value === 'number' ? value : parseInt(textOf(value).replace('#', ''), 16);
       return Number.isFinite(n) ? Math.max(0, Math.min(0xffffff, Math.floor(n))) : def.default;
     }
     case 'boolean':
@@ -208,9 +215,9 @@ export function coerceValue(def: PropertyDef, value: PropertyValue): PropertyVal
     case 'key':
     case 'asset':
     case 'texture':
-      return String(value);
+      return textOf(value);
     case 'enum': {
-      const s = String(value);
+      const s = textOf(value);
       return def.options.some((o) => o.value === s) ? s : def.default;
     }
     case 'list':
@@ -232,15 +239,15 @@ export function listFromText(text: string, items: ListItemKind): ListValue {
 }
 
 export function coerceListItem(value: PropertyValue, items: ListItemKind): number | string | boolean {
-  if (items === 'text') return isList(value) ? value.join(', ') : String(value);
+  if (items === 'text') return isList(value) ? value.join(', ') : textOf(value);
   if (items === 'boolean') {
     if (typeof value === 'boolean') return value;
     // A list is typed as text, so the spelling has to count: Boolean('false') would be true.
-    const s = String(value).trim().toLowerCase();
+    const s = textOf(value).trim().toLowerCase();
     return !(s === '' || s === 'false' || s === '0' || s === 'no');
   }
   if (items === 'color') {
-    const c = typeof value === 'number' ? value : parseInt(String(value).replace('#', ''), 16);
+    const c = typeof value === 'number' ? value : parseInt(textOf(value).replace('#', ''), 16);
     return Number.isFinite(c) ? Math.max(0, Math.min(0xffffff, Math.floor(c))) : 0;
   }
   const n = typeof value === 'number' ? value : Number(value);

src/core/properties/bounds.ts

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * "Add collider", so all three agree on how big a thing is.
  */
 import type { AssetType } from '../model/AssetTypes';
-import type { PropertyBag, Vec2 } from '../model/Properties';
+import { type PropertyBag, textOf, type Vec2 } from '../model/Properties';
 import { cameraFrame } from './camera';
 import { colliderSize } from './collider';
 import { defaultsFor } from './PropertySchema';
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ const LINE_HEIGHT = 1.25;
 /** Estimated from the content and font size, without measuring the text. */
 export function textSize(props: PropertyBag): { w: number; h: number } {
   const size = Math.max(1, Number(props.fontSize ?? TEXT_DEFAULTS.fontSize));
-  const lines = String(props.text ?? TEXT_DEFAULTS.text).split('\n');
+  const lines = textOf(props.text ?? TEXT_DEFAULTS.text).split('\n');
   const longest = lines.reduce((max, line) => Math.max(max, line.length), 0);
   return {
     w: Math.max(size * CHAR_WIDTH, longest * size * CHAR_WIDTH),
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ export function textSize(props: PropertyBag): { w: number; h: number } {
 
 /** 0 = left edge on the position, 0.5 = centred, 1 = right. */
 export function textAnchor(props: PropertyBag): number {
-  const align = String(props.align ?? TEXT_DEFAULTS.align);
+  const align = textOf(props.align ?? TEXT_DEFAULTS.align);
   return align === 'left' ? 0 : align === 'right' ? 1 : 0.5;
 }
 

src/core/store/serialize.ts

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import {
 import type { Asset, TextureFrame } from '../model/Asset';
 import { isAssetType } from '../model/AssetTypes';
 import { emptyEdit, type InstanceEdit, isEmptyEdit } from '../model/instance';
-import type { PropertyBag, PropertyValue } from '../model/Properties';
+import type { FieldValue, PropertyBag, PropertyValue } from '../model/Properties';
 import { PROJECT_FORMAT_VERSION, type Project } from '../model/Project';
 import type { SceneObject } from '../model/SceneObject';
 import { isTextureFile, normalizeFrameRect } from '../model/texture';
@@ -209,10 +209,11 @@ function normalizeGraph(raw: unknown): Graph {
     const type = typeof n.type === 'string' ? n.type : '';
     if (!id || nodeIds.has(id) || !nodeDef(type)) continue;
     nodeIds.add(id);
+    // Params carry both settings and inline input values, so there is no schema to coerce against.
     const params: PropertyBag = {};
     for (const [key, value] of Object.entries(asRecord(n.params))) {
-      if (typeof value === 'number' || typeof value === 'string' || typeof value === 'boolean')
-        params[key] = value;
+      const stored = asStoredValue(value);
+      if (stored !== undefined) params[key] = stored;
     }
     const node: GraphNode = { id, type, x: toNumber(n.x), y: toNumber(n.y), params };
     const ports = normalizePorts(n.ports);
@@ -296,10 +297,22 @@ function asRecord(value: unknown): Record<string, unknown> {
 }
 
 /**
- * A value from an untyped slot (instance edits carry no schema to coerce against). Lists are kept
- * but flattened away one level, so nothing nested can enter the model behind the type's back.
+ * A value from an untyped slot (node params, instance edits). Lists and structs are kept but
+ * flattened one level, so nothing deeper than the model allows can enter behind the type's back.
  */
 function asStoredValue(value: unknown): PropertyValue | undefined {
+  const field = asFieldValue(value);
+  if (field !== undefined) return field;
+  if (!value || typeof value !== 'object') return undefined;
+  const fields: Record<string, FieldValue> = {};
+  for (const [key, item] of Object.entries(value)) {
+    const stored = asFieldValue(item);
+    if (stored !== undefined) fields[key] = stored;
+  }
+  return fields;
+}
+
+function asFieldValue(value: unknown): FieldValue | undefined {
   if (typeof value === 'number' || typeof value === 'string' || typeof value === 'boolean') return value;
   if (Array.isArray(value))
     return value.filter(

src/editor/graph/GraphCanvas.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { Container, type FederatedPointerEvent, type FederatedWheelEvent, Graphics, Text } from 'pixi.js';
+import { textOf } from '../../core/model/Properties';
 import type { Command } from '../../core/commands/Command';
 import { CompoundCommand } from '../../core/commands/CompoundCommand';
 import {
@@ -380,7 +381,7 @@ export class GraphCanvas extends Widget {
   /** Selecting the asset is what opens it: the graph tab follows the selection. */
   private openCalledBehavior(node: GraphNode): boolean {
     if (node.type !== RUN_BEHAVIOR) return false;
-    const id = String(node.params[BEHAVIOR_PARAM] ?? '');
+    const id = textOf(node.params[BEHAVIOR_PARAM] ?? '');
     const asset = id ? findAsset(this.state.project, id) : undefined;
     if (asset?.type !== 'behavior') return false;
     this.state.select({ kind: 'asset', assetId: id });

src/editor/graph/NodeView.ts

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../core/graph';
 import type { BehaviorAsset } from '../../core/model/Asset';
 import type { Project } from '../../core/model/Project';
-import { isList, type PropertyValue } from '../../core/model/Properties';
+import { isList, type PropertyValue, textOf } from '../../core/model/Properties';
 import { assetRefLabel } from '../../core/properties/assetRef';
 import type { PropertyDef } from '../../core/properties/PropertySchema';
 import { formatNumber, Theme, textStyle, type TextStyleToken, truncate, Widget } from '../../ui';
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ export function portColor(type: PortType): number {
       return c.portObject;
     case 'list':
       return c.portList;
+    case 'struct':
+      return c.portStruct;
     case 'any':
       return c.portAny;
   }
@@ -296,8 +298,8 @@ function formatParam(
   project: Project | null,
 ): string {
   if (value === undefined || value === '') return '—';
-  if (param.kind === 'key') return keyLabel(String(value));
-  if (param.kind === 'asset') return assetRefLabel(project, String(value));
+  if (param.kind === 'key') return keyLabel(textOf(value));
+  if (param.kind === 'asset') return assetRefLabel(project, textOf(value));
   if (
     param.kind === 'enum' &&
     param.key === 'variable' &&

src/editor/inspector/fieldFactory.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { isList, type PropertyValue } from '../../core/model/Properties';
+import { isList, type PropertyValue, textOf } from '../../core/model/Properties';
 import type { Project } from '../../core/model/Project';
 import {
   assetChoiceLabel,
@@ -187,8 +187,8 @@ export function createField(
       return { widget: field, grow: true, setValue: (v) => field.setNumber(Number(v)) };
     }
     case 'text': {
-      const field = new TextField(String(value), { onInput: handlers.onInput, onChange: handlers.onChange });
-      return { widget: field, grow: true, setValue: (v) => field.setValue(String(v)) };
+      const field = new TextField(textOf(value), { onInput: handlers.onInput, onChange: handlers.onChange });
+      return { widget: field, grow: true, setValue: (v) => field.setValue(textOf(v)) };
     }
     case 'color': {
       const field = new ColorField(Number(value), { onInput: handlers.onInput, onChange: handlers.onChange });
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ export function createField(
     }
     case 'enum': {
       const labelOf = (v: PropertyValue) =>
-        def.options.find((o) => o.value === String(v))?.label ?? (String(v) || '—');
+        def.options.find((o) => o.value === textOf(v))?.label ?? (textOf(v) || '—');
       const button = new Dropdown(labelOf(value));
       button.onClick = () => {
         new Menu(
@@ -220,13 +220,13 @@ export function createField(
       return { widget: button, grow: true, setValue: (v) => button.setText(labelOf(v)) };
     }
     case 'key': {
-      const button = new KeyCaptureButton(String(value), (key) => handlers.onChange(key));
-      return { widget: button, grow: true, setValue: (v) => button.setKey(String(v)) };
+      const button = new KeyCaptureButton(textOf(value), (key) => handlers.onChange(key));
+      return { widget: button, grow: true, setValue: (v) => button.setKey(textOf(v)) };
     }
     case 'asset': {
       // The current id is kept here rather than read back off the label: the label is a name,
       // two assets may share one, and a dangling reference has no name at all.
-      let current = String(value);
+      let current = textOf(value);
       const button = new Dropdown(assetRefLabel(ctx.project(), current));
       button.onClick = () => {
         const mark = (id: string, text: string) => (id === current ? `● ${text}` : text);
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ export function createField(
         widget: button,
         grow: true,
         setValue: (v) => {
-          current = String(v);
+          current = textOf(v);
           button.setText(assetRefLabel(ctx.project(), current));
         },
       };
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ export function createField(
     case 'texture': {
       // Kept for the same reason as in the asset case, and more urgently: a frame's label
       // repeats its sheet's name, so several entries can read identically.
-      let current = String(value);
+      let current = textOf(value);
       const button = new Dropdown(textureRefLabel(ctx.project(), current));
       button.onClick = () => {
         const mark = (id: string, text: string) => (id === current ? `● ${text}` : text);
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ export function createField(
         widget: button,
         grow: true,
         setValue: (v) => {
-          current = String(v);
+          current = textOf(v);
           button.setText(textureRefLabel(ctx.project(), current));
         },
       };

src/editor/inspector/portSection.ts

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ const KIND_LABELS: Record<DeclaredPortKind, string> = {
   text: 'Text',
   object: 'Object',
   list: 'List',
+  struct: 'Struct',
 };
 
 const KIND_MARKS: Record<DeclaredPortKind, string> = {
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ const KIND_MARKS: Record<DeclaredPortKind, string> = {
   text: 'Aa',
   object: '◇',
   list: '≡',
+  struct: '⊞',
 };
 
 /**

src/editor/texture/TextureCanvas.ts

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from 'pixi.js';
 import { AddFrameCommand, SetFrameRectCommand } from '../../core/commands/frameCommands';
 import type { TextureAsset, TextureFrame } from '../../core/model/Asset';
-import type { Vec2 } from '../../core/model/Properties';
+import { textOf, type Vec2 } from '../../core/model/Properties';
 import { findAsset } from '../../core/model/Project';
 import { type FrameRect, MIN_FRAME_SIZE, normalizeFrameRect } from '../../core/model/texture';
 import { type Size, Theme, textStyle, ui, Widget, zoomFactor } from '../../ui';
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ export class TextureCanvas extends Widget {
   private pictureOf(asset: TextureAsset) {
     return textureLibrary.get({
       file: asset.file,
-      smooth: String(asset.props.filter ?? 'linear') !== 'nearest',
+      smooth: textOf(asset.props.filter ?? 'linear') !== 'nearest',
       rect: null,
       sourceWidth: asset.width,
       sourceHeight: asset.height,

src/editor/viewport/WorldViewport.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { Container, type FederatedPointerEvent, Graphics, Text, TextStyle } from 'pixi.js';
 import { isSymbolType } from '../../core/model/AssetTypes';
-import { sortByZ, type Vec2 } from '../../core/model/Properties';
+import { sortByZ, type Vec2, textOf } from '../../core/model/Properties';
 import { footprintOf, textAnchor } from '../../core/properties/bounds';
 import { rectAround, rectsIntersect } from '../../core/properties/camera';
 import type { EditorState } from '../state';
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ export abstract class WorldViewport extends Widget {
     }
     text.visible = true;
     text.position.set(item.x, item.y);
-    text.text = String(item.props.text ?? '');
+    text.text = textOf(item.props.text ?? '');
     const size = Math.max(1, Number(item.props.fontSize ?? 32));
     if (text.style.fontSize !== size) text.style.fontSize = size;
     const color = Number(item.props.color ?? 0xffffff);

src/runtime/Entity.ts

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import type { ENTITY_HANDLE } from '../core/graph/NodeContext';
 import type { AssetType } from '../core/model/AssetTypes';
 import type { PropertyBag } from '../core/model/Properties';
 
@@ -8,6 +9,8 @@ import type { PropertyBag } from '../core/model/Properties';
  * editor panels can show and edit them while playing.
  */
 export interface Entity {
+  /** What tells a graph this object is a live entity and not a struct value. */
+  readonly [ENTITY_HANDLE]: true;
   id: string;
   /** Scene object this entity was instantiated from (for selection highlighting). */
   objectId: string;

src/runtime/World.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { isHandleEnabled, type PointerState, worldPositionOf } from '../core/graph';
+import { ENTITY_HANDLE, isHandleEnabled, type PointerState, worldPositionOf } from '../core/graph';
 import { newId } from '../core/ids';
 import type { Asset } from '../core/model/Asset';
 import { isPlaceableType } from '../core/model/AssetTypes';
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ export class World {
     let entity = this.findByObjectId(object.id);
     if (!entity) {
       entity = {
+        [ENTITY_HANDLE]: true,
         id: `e-${object.id}`,
         objectId: object.id,
         assetId: asset.id,

src/runtime/systems/BehaviorSystem.ts

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../core/graph';
 import { stepKeyRepeat } from '../../core/graph/keyRepeat';
 import { behaviorLookup } from '../../core/model/behaviorPrograms';
-import type { PropertyBag } from '../../core/model/Properties';
+import { type PropertyBag, textOf } from '../../core/model/Properties';
 import { findAsset, type Project } from '../../core/model/Project';
 import type { Entity } from '../Entity';
 import type { World } from '../World';
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ export class BehaviorSystem implements System {
 
   update(world: World, dt: number): void {
     this.syncInstances(world);
-    const keyOf = (node: { params: PropertyBag }) => String(node.params.key ?? '');
+    const keyOf = (node: { params: PropertyBag }) => textOf(node.params.key ?? '');
     for (const instance of this.instances) {
       if (!world.entities.includes(instance.entity)) continue; // destroyed during play
       if (!isHandleEnabled(instance.entity)) continue; // switched off (itself or a parent)
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ export class BehaviorSystem implements System {
    * in `nodeState`, so two nodes on the same key repeat on their own schedules.
    */
   private fireKeyDown(i: GraphInterpreter, ctx: NodeContext, node: GraphNode, dt: number): void {
-    const key = String(node.params.key ?? '');
+    const key = textOf(node.params.key ?? '');
     const stored = i.nodeState.get(node.id);
     const { state, fires } = stepKeyRepeat(
       stored ? { held: stored.held ?? 0, repeats: stored.repeats ?? 0 } : null,

src/ui/Theme.ts

@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ export const Theme = {
     portString: 0xe6a8ff,
     portObject: 0x56ccf2,
     portList: 0xf2a75c,
+    portStruct: 0xd4c25a,
     portAny: 0xbdbdbd,
     /** Ring around the port a running edge drag would connect to. */
     portTarget: 0xffffff,

tests/core/graph.test.ts

@@ -486,6 +486,15 @@ describe('behavior serialization', () => {
     expect(cleaned.graph.nodes.length).toBe(behavior.graph.nodes.length);
     expect(cleaned.graph.edges.length).toBe(behavior.graph.edges.length);
   });
+
+  it('keeps a node param that is a whole list or a struct, not just a single value', () => {
+    const { project, behavior, edit } = emptyBehavior();
+    const list = edit.addNode('List', { value: [3, 1, 4] });
+    const struct = edit.addNode('Number', { bundle: { x: 2, tags: ['a'] } });
+    const loaded = findAsset(roundTrip(project), behavior.id) as BehaviorAsset;
+    expect(findNode(loaded.graph, list.id)!.params.value).toEqual([3, 1, 4]);
+    expect(findNode(loaded.graph, struct.id)!.params.bundle).toEqual({ x: 2, tags: ['a'] });
+  });
 });
 
 describe('unknown node types', () => {

tests/core/list-value.test.ts

@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
 import { AddVariableCommand } from '../../src/core/commands/variableCommands';
 import { SetOverrideCommand } from '../../src/core/commands/sceneObjectCommands';
-import { sameValue } from '../../src/core/model/Properties';
+import { sameValue, textOf } from '../../src/core/model/Properties';
 import { findAsset, objectHolders, type Project } from '../../src/core/model/Project';
 import { deserializeProject } from '../../src/core/store/serialize';
 import { coerceValue, listFromText, listToText, variableDef } from '../../src/core/properties/PropertySchema';
 import { deviatesFromAsset } from '../../src/core/properties/resolve';
-import { makeBehavior, makeSpriteScene, place, roundTrip } from '../helpers';
+import { asEntity, asStruct, writeTyped } from '../../src/core/graph';
+import { fakeEntity, makeBehavior, makeSpriteScene, place, roundTrip } from '../helpers';
 
 const findObject = (project: Project, id: string) =>
   objectHolders(project)
@@ -94,3 +95,43 @@ describe('a list as a value', () => {
     expect(coerceValue(def, ['1', 2])).toEqual([1, 2]);
   });
 });
+
+describe('a struct as a value', () => {
+  it('compares by content, one level deep, and tells a different shape apart', () => {
+    expect(sameValue({ x: 1, tags: ['a'] }, { x: 1, tags: ['a'] })).toBe(true);
+    expect(sameValue({ x: 1, tags: ['a'] }, { x: 1, tags: ['b'] })).toBe(false);
+    expect(sameValue({ x: 1 }, { x: 1, y: 2 })).toBe(false);
+    expect(sameValue({ x: 1 }, [1])).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('reads as text field by field, never as "[object Object]"', () => {
+    expect(textOf({ x: 1, tags: ['a', 'b'] })).toBe('x: 1, tags: a, b');
+  });
+
+  it('is not a live entity, and a live entity is not one', () => {
+    const handle = fakeEntity('Player');
+    expect(asStruct(handle)).toEqual({});
+    expect(asStruct({ x: 1 })).toEqual({ x: 1 });
+    expect(asEntity({ x: 1 })).toBeNull();
+    expect(asEntity(handle)).toBe(handle);
+  });
+
+  /** What lets one node set some values of a bundle without erasing the rest of it. */
+  it('keeps the fields of the slot it is written into, filling only the ones that arrive', () => {
+    const bag = { piece: { x: 1, y: 2, name: 'T' } };
+    writeTyped(bag, 'piece', { y: 9, gone: 5 });
+    expect(bag.piece).toEqual({ x: 1, y: 9, name: 'T' });
+  });
+
+  it('converts each field to the type that field already held', () => {
+    const bag = { piece: { count: 0, on: false, label: '' } };
+    writeTyped(bag, 'piece', { count: '7', on: 'yes', label: 42 });
+    expect(bag.piece).toEqual({ count: 7, on: true, label: '42' });
+  });
+
+  it('a non-struct written into a struct slot leaves the declared fields standing', () => {
+    const bag = { piece: { x: 1 } };
+    writeTyped(bag, 'piece', 5);
+    expect(bag.piece).toEqual({ x: 1 });
+  });
+});

tests/core/walk.test.ts

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
 import { AddColliderCommand } from '../../src/core/commands/colliderCommands';
-import { type EntityHandle, worldPositionOf } from '../../src/core/graph';
+import { ENTITY_HANDLE, type EntityHandle, worldPositionOf } from '../../src/core/graph';
 import { hasParentCycle, parentChain } from '../../src/core/model/walk';
 import { makeSpriteScene, place, startWorld } from '../helpers';
 
@@ -41,8 +41,29 @@ describe('parentChain', () => {
 
 describe('cycle-safe walks in the runtime', () => {
   it('world position of a cyclic chain terminates and counts each ancestor once', () => {
-    const a: EntityHandle = { id: 'a', assetId: 'x', name: 'a', x: 1, y: 10, z: 0, props: {}, parent: null };
-    const b: EntityHandle = { id: 'b', assetId: 'x', name: 'b', x: 2, y: 20, z: 0, props: {}, parent: a };
+    const brand = { [ENTITY_HANDLE]: true } as const;
+    const a: EntityHandle = {
+      ...brand,
+      id: 'a',
+      assetId: 'x',
+      name: 'a',
+      x: 1,
+      y: 10,
+      z: 0,
+      props: {},
+      parent: null,
+    };
+    const b: EntityHandle = {
+      ...brand,
+      id: 'b',
+      assetId: 'x',
+      name: 'b',
+      x: 2,
+      y: 20,
+      z: 0,
+      props: {},
+      parent: a,
+    };
     a.parent = b;
     expect(worldPositionOf(b)).toEqual({ x: 3, y: 30, z: 0 });
   });

tests/helpers.ts

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { AddNodeCommand, ConnectCommand } from '../src/core/commands/graphComman
 import { PlaceAssetCommand } from '../src/core/commands/sceneObjectCommands';
 import { AddVariableCommand } from '../src/core/commands/variableCommands';
 import {
+  ENTITY_HANDLE,
   type EntityHandle,
   type GraphNode,
   type NodeContext,
@@ -132,12 +133,12 @@ export const NO_POINTER: PointerState = {
 
 /** A top-level entity handle named after itself, with empty props. */
 export function fakeEntity(name: string, x = 0, assetId = `asset-${name}`): EntityHandle {
-  return { id: name, assetId, name, x, y: 0, z: 0, props: {}, parent: null };
+  return { [ENTITY_HANDLE]: true, id: name, assetId, name, x, y: 0, z: 0, props: {}, parent: null };
 }
 
 /** An entity handle "h" carrying the given props, optionally below a parent. */
 export function fakeHandle(props: PropertyBag, parent: EntityHandle | null = null): EntityHandle {
-  return { id: 'h', assetId: 'a', name: 'h', x: 0, y: 0, z: 0, props, parent };
+  return { [ENTITY_HANDLE]: true, id: 'h', assetId: 'a', name: 'h', x: 0, y: 0, z: 0, props, parent };
 }
 
 export type FakeContext = NodeContext & { logs: string[]; stopped: boolean };