Learn Unity DOTS! Make an Awesome RTS by Hugo Cardoso

This course is a massive, hands-on tutorial for Unity DOTS, the Data Oriented Technology Stack that includes the Entity Component System, the Job System, and the Burst Compiler. You’ll build a complete RTS game from scratch, learning how to leverage these tools to achieve over 100x performance improvements in your projects. Even if you’re new to DOTS, the basics are surprisingly approachable, and this course makes it easy to get started.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Set up and use Unity DOTS in a real project
• Implement the Entity Component System for game logic
• Optimize performance with the Job System and Burst Compiler
• Build a full RTS game with units, buildings, and combat
• Understand when and why to use DOTS over traditional Unity workflows

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Basic understanding of Unity and C# programming
• Tools: Unity Editor (latest version with DOTS package)
• Hardware: A computer capable of running Unity, with a dedicated GPU recommended for performance testing

📝 Description

This isn’t just a theory dump—it’s a full project-based walkthrough. You’ll start with an empty Unity project and end with a playable RTS game. The course focuses on practical application, showing you exactly how to structure your code with ECS, use the Job System to handle complex calculations in parallel, and apply the Burst Compiler to squeeze out every bit of performance.

The beauty of DOTS is that it’s not as scary as it sounds. Once you grasp the core concepts, you’ll see how it can transform your game development, especially for large-scale simulations or games with hundreds of entities. This course is perfect for anyone who’s hit performance walls with traditional Unity and wants a solution that scales.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Unity developers curious about DOTS and its performance benefits
• Game developers working on RTS, factory, or simulation games
• Programmers who want to learn modern data-oriented design in Unity

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Hugo Cardoso is the creator behind Code Monkey, a popular YouTube channel and educational platform dedicated to Unity game development. With years of experience teaching Unity, Hugo has a knack for breaking down complex topics into digestible, practical lessons. His tutorials are known for being clear, direct, and focused on real-world application, making him a trusted guide for developers at all levels.

🏁 Final Result

By the end of this course, you’ll have a fully functional RTS game built with Unity DOTS, complete with unit movement, combat, and selection mechanics. More importantly, you’ll have the knowledge to apply DOTS to your own projects, enabling you to handle massive numbers of entities with ease and confidence.