Resouces.Load call from constructor

I'm trying to define a static variable in order not to have to declare it in every instance of the class Module:

Code (CSharp):

1. public class Module : MonoBehaviour {
2.  
3.     private static readonly Sprite buttonInactive = Resources.Load<Sprite>("Sprites/ButtonInactive");
4.     // ...
5. }

But apparently, Load can not be called from there, since I get the following exception:

Load is not allowed to be called from a MonoBehaviour constructor (or instance field initializer), call it in Awake or Start instead.

Is there a simple way to work this around? If I do what Unity suggests and define this variable in Awake, I would have to load the image from Resources for every instance, which seems inefficient. I could also link the sprite from the inspector, I guess, but I'm trying to avoid working with it as much as I can. Any other ideas?

 

Yes, put it in Awake();, as they say.

I dunno how many frazillions of objects you contemplating having, but since a Resources.Load<>() call on something that has already been Resource.Load<>()'ed once is likely just a Dictionary lookup, I think you'll be just fine.

Besides, if you're sticking it in a static ANYWAY, just guard it with a null check first!

 

Code (CSharp):

1. protected void Awake()
2. {
3.    buttonInactive = buttonInactive ?? Resources.Load<Sprite>("Sprites/ButtonInactive");
4. }

 

Yes, but this way I have to get rid of the const/readonly access.

Are you sure about that? I've seen some discussion in the forum about it I can't find any documentation from Unity about it either.

 

Yeah I know, its really sad.

 

Possibly because it may turn out to be platform and/or implementation dependent, but more likely because it is NOT something you should even be remotely agonizing about.

I can't help you with language mumbo jumbo, but if I were you, I would do it the way I outlined in the above post, loading it only as null.

Or alternately, this way. I assure you, it won't make any measurable difference.

Code (csharp):

1. static Sprite _buttonInactive;
2. static Sprite buttonInactive
3. {
4.   get
5.   {
6.     if (!Sprite) buttonInactive = Resources.Load<Sprite>("Sprites/ButtonInactive");
7.     return buttonInactive;
8.   }
9. }

 

You can also use a static constructor:

Code (CSharp):

1. public class Module : MonoBehaviour {
2.  
3.     private static readonly Sprite buttonInactive;
4.  
5.     static Module () {
6.         buttonInactive = Resources.Load<Sprite>("Sprites/ButtonInactive");
7.     }
8.     // ...
9. }

The constructor will run on the first call to a static field.