Trouble accessing another script's variables. Alternative to using var for accessing variables from other scripts?

Questions & Answers
1

I am attempting to make a game manager that handles all variables in a simple game I am making and am currently testing it on a timer. However, the var keyword is the only issue I am coming across regarding this so far. What changes would I need to make to get this to work? Code:

using System.Collections;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using UnityEngine.UI;
using UnityEngine;

public class timer : MonoBehaviour
{
    public Slider Timer;
    var gameManager;
    // Use this for initialization
    void Start ()
    {
        Timer = GetComponent<Slider>();
        GameObject gameManager = GameObject.Find("GameManager");
        Functions functions = gameManager.GetComponent<Functions>();
	}
	
	// Update is called once per frame
	void Update ()
    {
        gameManager.startTime -= Time.deltaTime;
        Timer.value = gameManager.startTime;

        if (gameManager.startTime <= 0)
        {
            Timer.value = 0;
            gameManager.startTime = 0;
        }
	}
}
2

You’re on the right track, I don’t like using the var keyword either. Here’s a few things I see:

Firstly, if you need a reference to the gameobject itself, I would use GameObject gameManager; instead of var gameManager;.

Secondly, if you need a reference to a SCRIPT on that gameobject (like your Functions class), I would keep a reference to the script instead of a reference to the gameobject (if you need both, I would still keep a reference to the script, as it’s faster to get a gameobject from the script reference than it is to get a script from the gameobject reference).

Thirdly, in your update function, you’re trying to access gameManager.startTime. Your gameManager field currently holds a GameObject. GameObjects don’t have any field called startTime. If that’s a field from your Function script, you should be accessing startTime from your Function script instead of from the gameObject (use functions.startTime, if you have such a field).

Fourthly, it’s generally considered bad form to use GameObject.Find() except as an absolute last resort (and even then it’s considered bad form to put yourself in a position where it’s your last resort). If you have a game management script that you know you will only ever have one instance of, a better alternative would be to put a static field containing the only instance of it, e.g. public static Functions instance; in your Functions script (there are also bad ways to do this, see HERE for a safe way to do this).