Merge pull request #10888 from Calinou/running-code-in-the-editor-static-context

Clarify rules around which scripts require `@tool` in Running code in the editor

Author: skyace65

tutorials/plugins/running_code_in_the_editor.rst

@@ -105,20 +105,33 @@ Here is how a ``_process()`` function might look for you:
         // Code to execute both in editor and in game.
     }
 
+.. _doc_running_code_in_the_editor_important_information:
+
 Important information
 ---------------------
 
-Any other GDScript that your tool script uses must *also* be a tool. Any
-GDScript without ``@tool`` used by the editor will act like an empty file!
+The general rule is that **any other GDScript that your tool script uses must
+*also* be a tool**. The editor is not able to construct instances from GDScript
+files without ``@tool``, which means you cannot call methods or reference member
+variables from them otherwise. However, since static methods, constants and
+enums can be used without creating an instance, it is possible to call them or
+reference them from a ``@tool`` script onto other non-tool scripts. One exception to
+this are :ref:`static variables <doc_gdscript_basics_static_variables>`.
+If you try to read a static variable's value in a script that does not have
+``@tool``, it will always return ``null`` but won't print a warning or error
+when doing so. This restriction does not apply to static methods, which can be
+called regardless of whether the target script is in tool mode.
 
 Extending a ``@tool`` script does not automatically make the extending script
 a ``@tool``. Omitting ``@tool`` from the extending script will disable tool
-behavior from the super class. Therefore the extending script should also
+behavior from the super class. Therefore, the extending script should also
 specify the ``@tool`` annotation.
 
-Modifications in the editor are permanent. For example, in the next
-section when we remove the script, the node will keep its rotation. Be careful
-to avoid making unwanted modifications.
+Modifications in the editor are permanent, with no undo/redo possible. For
+example, in the next section when we remove the script, the node will keep its
+rotation. Be careful to avoid making unwanted modifications. Consider setting up
+:ref:`version control <doc_version_control_systems>` to avoid losing work in
+case you make a mistake.
 
 Using the debugger and breakpoints on tool scripts is not currently supported.
 Breakpoints placed in the script editor or using the ``breakpoint`` keyword are

tutorials/scripting/gdscript/gdscript_basics.rst

@@ -1146,6 +1146,8 @@ Member variables are initialized in the following order:
     To fix this, move the ``_data`` variable definition above the ``a`` definition
     or remove the empty dictionary assignment (``= {}``).
 
+.. _doc_gdscript_basics_static_variables:
+
 Static variables
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
@@ -1234,6 +1236,13 @@ A base class static variable can also be accessed via a child class:
         B.x = 3
         prints(A.x, B.x) # 3 3
 
+.. note::
+
+    When referencing a static variable from a tool script, the other script
+    containing the static variable **must** also be a tool script.
+    See :ref:`Running code in the editor <doc_running_code_in_the_editor_important_information>`
+    for details.
+
 ``@static_unload`` annotation
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~