Easy project references for Unity, without using Resources.Load ! Faster and cleaner.

ProjectReferences.cs

using UnityEngine;

public class ProjectReferences<T> : ScriptableObject where T : ScriptableObject
{
    private static T instance;
    public static T Instance {
        get {
            if (instance == null) {
                instance = Resources.Load<T>(typeof(T).Name);
                if (instance == null) {
                    instance = CreateInstance<T>();
#if UNITY_EDITOR
                    UnityEditor.AssetDatabase.CreateAsset(instance, $"Assets/Resources/{typeof(T).Name}.asset");
#else
                    Debug.LogError($"There is no '{typeof(T).Name}' in your resources. Access {typeof(T).Name} class in the Editor to initialize it.");
#endif
                }
            }
            return instance;
        }
    }
}



//---- EXAMPLE : ----

// Just create a class that inherits from ProjectReferences<YourClass> !
// You can have an unlimited number of those !
public class ProjectIcons : ProjectReferences<ProjectIcons>
{
    [SerializeField]
    private Texture2D folder;
    public static Texture2D Folder => Instance.folder;

    [SerializeField]
    private Texture2D cursor;
    public static Texture2D Cursor => Instance.folder;

    // Anything else pretty much !
    // Materials, Prefabs, Images, Soundclips...
}

// Then, in anywhere in you code, you can use ProjectIcons.Folder !
// It's faster and safer than Resources.Load.
// Also, as the ProjectIcons instance is already in resources, its references don't require to be in the resource folder.
// This way, things are well organized !