Scene Runtime APIs

Cross-cutting runtime APIs available in every Decentraland SDK7 scene.

Async Tasks

The scene runtime is single-threaded. Wrap any async work in executeTask():

import { executeTask } from '@dcl/sdk/ecs'

executeTask(async () => {
  const res = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data')
  const data = await res.json()
  console.log(data)
})

HTTP: fetch & signedFetch

Plain fetch works for public APIs:

const res = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data')

signedFetch proves the player's identity to your backend. Use getHeaders() to obtain only the signed headers (useful when a library manages its own fetch):

import { signedFetch, getHeaders } from '~system/SignedFetch'

// Full signed request
const res = await signedFetch({ url: 'https://your-server.com/api', init: { method: 'POST', body: JSON.stringify(payload) } })

// Get signed headers only (for custom fetch calls)
const { headers } = await getHeaders({ url: 'https://your-server.com/api' })

Permission: External HTTP requires "ALLOW_TO_MOVE_PLAYER_INSIDE_SCENE" or no special permission for plain fetch; signedFetch needs the player to have interacted with the scene.

WebSocket

const ws = new WebSocket('wss://your-server.com/ws')
ws.onopen = () => ws.send('hello')
ws.onmessage = (event) => console.log(event.data)
ws.onclose = () => console.log('disconnected')

Scene & Realm Information

import { getSceneInformation, getRealm } from '~system/Runtime'
import { getExplorerInformation } from '~system/EnvironmentApi'

executeTask(async () => {
  // Scene info: URN, content mappings, metadata JSON, baseUrl
  const scene = await getSceneInformation({})
  const metadata = JSON.parse(scene.metadataJson)
  console.log(scene.urn, scene.baseUrl, metadata)

  // Realm info: baseUrl, realmName, isPreview, networkId, commsAdapter
  const realm = await getRealm({})
  console.log(realm.realmInfo?.realmName, realm.realmInfo?.isPreview)

  // Explorer info: agent string, platform, configurations
  const explorer = await getExplorerInformation({})
  console.log(explorer.agent, explorer.platform)
})

World Time

import { getWorldTime } from '~system/EnvironmentApi'

executeTask(async () => {
  const { seconds } = await getWorldTime({})
  // seconds = coordinated world time (cycles 0-86400 for day/night)
})

Read Deployed Files

Read files deployed with the scene at runtime:

import { readFile } from '~system/Runtime'

executeTask(async () => {
  const result = await readFile({ fileName: 'data/config.json' })
  const text = new TextDecoder().decode(result.content)
  const config = JSON.parse(text)
})

EngineInfo Component

Access frame-level timing:

import { EngineInfo } from '@dcl/sdk/ecs'

engine.addSystem(() => {
  const info = EngineInfo.getOrNull(engine.RootEntity)
  if (info) {
    console.log(info.frameNumber, info.tickNumber, info.totalRuntime)
  }
})

Restricted Actions

These require player interaction before they can execute. Import from ~system/RestrictedActions:

import {
  movePlayerTo,
  teleportTo,
  triggerEmote,
  changeRealm,
  openExternalUrl,
  openNftDialog,
  triggerSceneEmote,
  copyToClipboard,
  setCommunicationsAdapter
} from '~system/RestrictedActions'

// Move player within scene bounds
movePlayerTo({ newRelativePosition: { x: 8, y: 0, z: 8 } })

// Teleport to coordinates in Genesis City
teleportTo({ worldCoordinates: { x: 50, y: 70 } })

// Play a built-in emote
triggerEmote({ predefinedEmote: 'wave' })

// Open URL in browser (prompts user)
openExternalUrl({ url: 'https://decentraland.org' })

// Open NFT detail dialog
openNftDialog({ urn: 'urn:decentraland:ethereum:erc721:0x06012c8cf97BEaD5deAe237070F9587f8E7A266d:558536' })

// Copy text to clipboard
copyToClipboard({ value: 'Hello from Decentraland!' })

// Change realm
changeRealm({ realm: 'other-realm.dcl.eth', message: 'Join this realm?' })

Timers

setTimeout / setInterval are supported via the QuickJS runtime polyfill:

setTimeout(() => console.log('delayed'), 2000)
const id = setInterval(() => console.log('tick'), 1000)
clearInterval(id)

System-based timers (recommended for game logic — synchronized with the frame loop):

let elapsed = 0
engine.addSystem((dt: number) => {
  elapsed += dt
  if (elapsed >= 3) {
    elapsed = 0
    // Do something every 3 seconds
  }
})

Component.onChange() Listener

React to component changes on any entity:

Transform.onChange(engine.PlayerEntity, (newValue) => {
  if (newValue) {
    console.log('Player moved to', newValue.position)
  }
})

Utility: removeEntityWithChildren

Recursively remove an entity and all its children:

import { removeEntityWithChildren } from '@dcl/sdk/ecs'

removeEntityWithChildren(engine, parentEntity)

Portable Experiences

Scenes that persist across world navigation:

import { spawn, kill, exit, getPortableExperiencesLoaded } from '~system/PortableExperiences'

// Spawn a portable experience by URN
const result = await spawn({ urn: 'urn:decentraland:entity:bafk...' })

// List currently loaded portable experiences
const loaded = await getPortableExperiencesLoaded({})

// Kill a specific portable experience
await kill({ urn: 'urn:decentraland:entity:bafk...' })

// Exit self (if this scene IS a portable experience)
await exit({})

Testing Framework

SDK7 includes a testing framework for automated scene tests:

import { test, assert, assertEquals, assertComponentValue } from '@dcl/sdk/testing'
import { setCameraTransform } from '@dcl/sdk/testing'

test('cube is at correct position', async (context) => {
  // Set up camera for the test
  setCameraTransform({ position: { x: 8, y: 1, z: 8 } })

  // Wait for systems to run
  await context.helpers.waitNTicks(2)

  // Assert component values
  assertComponentValue(cubeEntity, Transform, {
    position: Vector3.create(8, 1, 8)
  })

  // Basic assertions
  assert(Transform.has(cubeEntity), 'Entity should have Transform')
  assertEquals(1 + 1, 2)
})

Run tests with:

npx @dcl/sdk-commands test

Best Practices

Always wrap async code in executeTask() — bare promises will be silently dropped
Use signedFetch (not plain fetch) when your backend needs to verify the player's identity
Prefer system-based timers over setTimeout/setInterval for game logic — they stay in sync with the frame loop
Check realm.realmInfo?.isPreview to detect preview mode and enable debug features
Use readFile() for data files (JSON configs, level data) deployed alongside the scene
removeEntityWithChildren() is essential when cleaning up complex entity hierarchies

scene-runtime