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Unity — Quickstart (30 minutes)

If you have 30 minutes, do exactly these three things.

Prerequisite

Comfort with C# basics (classes, fields, methods). If C# is new, do a Microsoft C# Learn track first — Unity-isms get conflated with C#-isms in your mental model otherwise.

1. Install + new project (10 min)

  • Install Unity Hub from unity.com/download.
  • Inside Hub: install Unity 6 LTS (latest patch). Include modules: Documentation + your platform's Build Support.
  • New Project → template: Universal 3D (URP). Name it. Open.
  • Wait for the editor to load (first time can be slow).

2. The component mental model (15 min)

Everything in a scene is a GameObject, which is a list of components + a Transform. Behavior comes from attaching components.

  • Right-click in Hierarchy → 3D Object → Plane. Right-click → 3D Object → Cube.
  • Move the cube up (Inspector > Transform > Position Y = 1) so it sits on the plane.
  • Right-click in Project → Create → C# Script → name Mover. Double-click to open in your editor.
  • Replace contents:
using UnityEngine;

public class Mover : MonoBehaviour {
    [SerializeField] float speed = 5f;

    void Update() {
        float x = Input.GetAxis("Horizontal");
        float z = Input.GetAxis("Vertical");
        transform.Translate(new Vector3(x, 0, z) * speed * Time.deltaTime);
    }
}
  • Save. Back in Unity, drag Mover.cs from Project onto the Cube in Hierarchy.
  • Press Play. WASD moves the cube.

You just used: a GameObject, a component (Mover script), [SerializeField] (exposes speed to the Inspector), Update() (per-frame), Time.deltaTime (frame-rate independence). These five concepts cover ~70% of all Unity scripting.

3. Save as a Prefab (5 min)

  • Drag the Cube from Hierarchy into Project (under Assets). The Cube becomes a Prefab.
  • Hierarchy entries reference the prefab; Project asset is the source.
  • Edit the Prefab (open the Prefab); change its color (add a Material). All instances update.
  • Drag the prefab back into the scene multiple times — instant copies.

This is composition's foundation: save a configured object, reuse it.

What's next

  • Tomorrow: read Usage, focusing on "MonoBehaviour lifecycle" and "Prefabs."
  • This week: start Tutorial Level 1 and follow the 12-week schedule.
  • Anki users: import unity.csv — MonoBehaviour callbacks, common types.
  • Decide your renderer goal early. If you're building 2D / mobile / lightweight 3D, stay on URP. HDRP only for offline-quality stylized rendering.