Add set_if_neq method to DetectChanges trait

crates/bevy_ecs/src/change_detection.rs

@@ -28,6 +28,13 @@ pub const MAX_CHANGE_AGE: u32 = u32::MAX - (2 * CHECK_TICK_THRESHOLD - 1);
 /// Normally change detecting is triggered by either [`DerefMut`] or [`AsMut`], however
 /// it can be manually triggered via [`DetectChanges::set_changed`].
 ///
+/// To ensure that changes are only triggered when the value actually differs,
+/// check if the value would change before assignment, such as by checking that `new != old`.
+/// You must be *sure* that you are not mutably derefencing in this process.
+///
+/// [`set_if_neq`](DetectChanges::set_if_neq) is a helper
+/// method for this common functionality.
+///
 /// ```
 /// use bevy_ecs::prelude::*;
 ///
@@ -65,6 +72,24 @@ pub trait DetectChanges {
     /// [`SystemChangeTick`](crate::system::SystemChangeTick)
     /// [`SystemParam`](crate::system::SystemParam).
     fn last_changed(&self) -> u32;
+
+    /// Sets `self` to `value`, if and only if `*self != *value`
+    ///
+    /// `T` is the type stored within the smart pointer (e.g. [`Mut`] or [`ResMut`]).
+    ///
+    /// This is useful to ensure change detection is only triggered when the underlying value
+    /// changes, instead of every time [`DerefMut`] is used.
+    #[inline]
+    fn set_if_neq<T>(&mut self, value: T)
+    where
+        Self: Deref<Target = T> + DerefMut<Target = T>,
+        T: PartialEq,
+    {
+        // This dereference is immutable, so does not trigger change detection
+        if **self != value {
+            **self = value;
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 macro_rules! change_detection_impl {
@@ -293,9 +318,14 @@ mod tests {
         world::World,
     };
 
-    #[derive(Component)]
+    use super::DetectChanges;
+
+    #[derive(Component, PartialEq)]
     struct C;
 
+    #[derive(PartialEq)]
+    struct R(u8);
+
     #[test]
     fn change_expiration() {
         fn change_detected(query: Query<ChangeTrackers<C>>) -> bool {
@@ -382,4 +412,30 @@ mod tests {
             assert!(ticks_since_change == MAX_CHANGE_AGE);
         }
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn set_if_neq() {
+        let mut world = World::new();
+
+        world.insert_resource(R(0));
+        // Resources are Changed when first added
+        world.increment_change_tick();
+        // This is required to update world::last_change_tick
+        world.clear_trackers();
+
+        let mut r = world.resource_mut::<R>();
+        assert!(!r.is_changed(), "Resource must begin unchanged.");
+
+        r.set_if_neq(R(0));
+        assert!(
+            !r.is_changed(),
+            "Resource must not be changed after setting to the same value."
+        );
+
+        r.set_if_neq(R(3));
+        assert!(
+            r.is_changed(),
+            "Resource must be changed after setting to a different value."
+        );
+    }
 }