Sprites Storage

Introduction

Sprites.org stores your data in an IndexedDB database named sprites. Each item, whatever its media type, is split across two object stores keyed by the same id: meta holds the metadata a listing reads, and data holds the heavy payload. A third store, refs, is the reference index between items.

References

Some items point at others. A map's tile set holds sprite ids, so a map uses sprites; later a text screen will hold font ids, and a 3D scene texture ids. Each item keeps its own references inside its data; that embedded copy is the source of truth and answers the forward question, what does this item use. The refs store is a separate, derived index that answers the reverse question, who uses this item, which no single document can. It is kept out of meta so a listing that bulk scans meta never pulls it, the same reason data is split from meta.

Each row is one edge. Its identity is the compound key [from, kind, slot], so a save is an idempotent set difference and one edge is addressable with no extra id field. The human description, for example Tileset sprite #3, is derived from kind and slot, not stored.

Two indexes serve the reverse queries: by_to on the target answers the usage count and the usage list; by_from on the owner lists an owner's edges, which a delete drops with the owner. Each editor keeps its own edges, writing one when it sets a reference and deleting it when it clears one, so an edit that changes no reference writes no edge. The edge table and its reads live in Sprites.Library.Store.Refs: the usage count is Refs.Count with { to: target } and the usage list is Refs.Filter with the same filter.

Cross-Tab Updates

All the browser tabs share the same library. When one saves, the others refresh on their own. The art stays in IndexedDB, and localStorage carries a change counter which all tabs watch via a storage event.

Media Data Formats

In the data store, the format of the data depends on the particular media type. Each type has a page with its fields and a full example. Only the sprite editor saves today, so the rest are placeholders until their editor lands.