feat(bt)!: Remove legacy tree definition format

The `LegacyTreeDef` type and its normalization path have been removed.
All tree definitions must now use the factory functions (`leaf`,
`sequential`, `parallel`, `selector`, `random`, `repeat`). The
`TreeDef` type is now simply `TaskEntityDef`.

USAGE.md

@@ -393,32 +393,33 @@ Command entities are automatically destroyed after processing if they become bar
 
 Behaviour trees control game flow by composing tasks into a tree. Each node in the tree is an ECS entity with a `Task` component. Parent-child relationships are `ChildOf` edges. This means you can query, observe, and serialize the tree just like any other ECS data.
 
-`buildTree()` takes a declarative definition and materializes it into entities, returning a fully-wired `TaskRunner`.
+`buildTree()` takes a task entity definition and materializes it into entities, returning a fully-wired `TaskRunner`. Task definitions are created with factories, and non-task child entities can be mixed in as metadata; the runner ignores those non-task children during execution.
 
 ```ts
-import { buildTree, Cancel } from "ecs-observable/bt";
+import { defineComponent, entity } from "ecs-observable";
+import { buildTree, Cancel, leaf, parallel, repeat, sequential } from "ecs-observable/bt";
 ```
 
 #### Leaf patterns
 
 **One-shot** — just return. Implicit success.
 ```ts
-{ kind: "leaf", run: () => { doWork(); } }
+leaf(() => { doWork(); })
 ```
 
 **Fail** — throw any error.
 ```ts
-{ kind: "leaf", run: () => { throw new Error("bad"); } }
+leaf(() => { throw new Error("bad"); })
 ```
 
 **Cancel** — throw the `Cancel` symbol.
 ```ts
-{ kind: "leaf", run: () => { throw Cancel; } }
+leaf(() => { throw Cancel; })
 ```
 
 **Ongoing** — generator function. Each `yield` suspends until next tick. The yielded value is the delay in ms (or nothing for next frame). Completion = success.
 ```ts
-{ kind: "leaf", *run() {
+leaf(function* tickTimer() {
   while (true) {
     const dt: number = yield;  // delta time from runner.tick(dt)
     timer.accumulator += dt;
@@ -426,49 +427,54 @@ import { buildTree, Cancel } from "ecs-observable/bt";
       // ... act ...
     }
   }
-} }
+})
 ```
 
 #### Composite nodes
 
 ```ts
-{ kind: "sequential", children: [a, b, c] }  // left-to-right, all must succeed
+sequential([a, b, c])  // left-to-right, all must succeed
-{ kind: "selector",   children: [a, b, c] }  // left-to-right, first success wins
+selector([a, b, c])    // left-to-right, first success wins
-{ kind: "parallel",   children: [a, b, c] }  // all at once, all must succeed
+parallel([a, b, c])    // all at once, all must succeed
-{ kind: "random",     children: [a, b, c] }  // pick one child each activation
+random([a, b, c])      // pick one child each activation
-{ kind: "repeat",     child: a }             // decorator — re-run child forever
+repeat(a)              // decorator — re-run child forever
+```
+
+Non-task entity children are materialized but ignored by the runner:
+
+```ts
+const Label = defineComponent("label", { value: "" });
+
+sequential([
+  entity(Label, { value: "main sequence" }),
+  leaf(handleInput),
+  leaf(render),
+])
 ```
 
 #### Full example
 
 ```ts
-const runner = buildTree(world, {
+const runner = buildTree(
-  kind: "parallel",
+  world,
-  children: [
+  parallel([
-    {
+    leaf(function* physicsLoop() {
-      kind: "leaf",
-      *run() {
       while (true) {
         const dt: number = yield;
         updatePhysics(dt);
       }
-      },
+    }),
-    },
+    repeat(
-    {
+      sequential([
-      kind: "repeat",
+        leaf(() => { handleInput(); }),
-      child: {
+        leaf(() => { render(); }),
-        kind: "sequential",
+      ]),
-        children: [
+    ),
-          { kind: "leaf", run: () => { handleInput(); } },
+  ]),
-          { kind: "leaf", run: () => { render(); } },
+);
-        ],
-      },
-    },
-  ],
-});
 
 // Kick off
-runner.schedule((runner as any).root);
+runner.schedule(runner.root!);
 
 // Game loop
 setInterval(() => runner.tick(16), 16);

examples/blackjack/main.ts

@@ -23,7 +23,13 @@
 //   npx tsx examples/blackjack/main.ts
 
 import { World } from "../../src/index";
-import { buildTree } from "../../src/bt/index";
+import {
+  buildTree,
+  leaf,
+  parallel,
+  repeat,
+  sequential,
+} from "../../src/bt/index";
 import { CommandQueue } from "../../src/commands/index";
 
 import {
@@ -63,14 +69,12 @@ const commands = new CommandQueue(world);
 registerCommands(world, commands, cards);
 
 // ── Behaviour Tree ───────────────────────────────────
-const runner = buildTree(world, {
+const runner = buildTree(
-  kind: "parallel",
+  world,
-  children: [
+  parallel([
-    {
+    leaf(function* dealerPlay() {
-      kind: "leaf",
-      *run() {
       while (true) {
-          const dt: number = yield;
+        yield;
         const phase = world.getSingleton(GamePhase);
         if (phase.phase !== "dealerTurn") continue;
 
@@ -83,30 +87,19 @@ const runner = buildTree(world, {
           resolveRound(world, cards);
         }
       }
-      },
+    }),
-    },
+    repeat(
-    {
+      sequential([
-      kind: "repeat",
+        leaf(() => {
-      child: {
-        kind: "sequential",
-        children: [
-          {
-            kind: "leaf",
-            run: () => {
           commands.execute();
-            },
+        }),
-          },
+        leaf(() => {
-          {
-            kind: "leaf",
-            run: () => {
           render(world, ui);
-            },
+        }),
-          },
+      ]),
-        ],
+    ),
-      },
+  ]),
-    },
+);
-  ],
-});
 
 // ── Input → Command mapping ──────────────────────────
 const keyToCommand: Partial<Record<Key, typeof Hit>> = {

examples/tetris/main.ts

@@ -20,7 +20,13 @@
 //   npx tsx examples/tetris/main.ts
 
 import { World } from "../../src/index";
-import { buildTree } from "../../src/bt/index";
+import {
+  buildTree,
+  leaf,
+  parallel,
+  repeat,
+  sequential,
+} from "../../src/bt/index";
 import { CommandQueue } from "../../src/commands/index";
 
 import {
@@ -64,12 +70,10 @@ registerCommands(world, commands, pieces);
 pieces.spawnPiece();
 
 // ── Behaviour Tree ───────────────────────────────────
-const runner = buildTree(world, {
+const runner = buildTree(
-  kind: "parallel",
+  world,
-  children: [
+  parallel([
-    {
+    leaf(function* gravityTick() {
-      kind: "leaf",
-      *run() {
       while (true) {
         const dt: number = yield;
         if (world.hasSingleton(GameOver) || world.hasSingleton(Paused)) {
@@ -90,30 +94,19 @@ const runner = buildTree(world, {
           }
         }
       }
-      },
+    }),
-    },
+    repeat(
-    {
+      sequential([
-      kind: "repeat",
+        leaf(() => {
-      child: {
-        kind: "sequential",
-        children: [
-          {
-            kind: "leaf",
-            run: () => {
           commands.execute();
-            },
+        }),
-          },
+        leaf(() => {
-          {
-            kind: "leaf",
-            run: () => {
           render(world, ui);
-            },
+        }),
-          },
+      ]),
-        ],
+    ),
-      },
+  ]),
-    },
+);
-  ],
-});
 
 // ── Input → Command mapping ──────────────────────────
 const keyToCommand: Partial<Record<Key, typeof MoveLeft>> = {

src/bt/index.ts

@@ -13,5 +13,14 @@ export type { TaskKind } from "./task";
 export { TaskRunner } from "./runner";
 export type { LeafHandler, TerminalHandler } from "./runner";
 
-export { buildTree, Cancel } from "./tree-def";
+export {
-export type { TreeDef, LeafFn } from "./tree-def";
+  buildTree,
+  Cancel,
+  leaf,
+  sequential,
+  parallel,
+  selector,
+  random,
+  repeat,
+} from "./tree-def";
+export type { TreeDef, TaskEntityDef, LeafTaskMeta, LeafFn } from "./tree-def";

src/bt/runner.ts

@@ -53,7 +53,11 @@ function clearSubtree(world: World, entity: Entity): void {
 }
 
 function* childrenOf(world: World, parent: Entity): IterableIterator<Entity> {
-  yield* world.getRelatedTo(parent, ChildOf);
+  for (const child of world.getRelatedTo(parent, ChildOf)) {
+    if (world.has(child, Task)) {
+      yield child;
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 function parentOf(world: World, child: Entity): Entity | null {
@@ -87,6 +91,9 @@ function parentOf(world: World, child: Entity): Entity | null {
 export class TaskRunner {
   private _world: World;
 
+  /** Root task entity, set by `buildTree` for convenience. */
+  root?: Entity;
+
   /** Called when a leaf task becomes Scheduled. */
   onLeaf: LeafHandler = () => {};
 

src/bt/tree-def.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type { World, Entity } from "../index";
+import type { EntityDef, EntityDefChild } from "../entity-tree";
 import { Task, ChildOf } from "./task";
 import { TaskRunner } from "./runner";
 
@@ -9,7 +10,7 @@ import { TaskRunner } from "./runner";
  *
  * @example
  * ```ts
- * { kind: "leaf", run: () => { throw Cancel; } }
+ * leaf(() => { throw Cancel; })
  * ```
  */
 export const Cancel: unique symbol = Symbol("leaf.cancel");
@@ -21,75 +22,148 @@ export type LeafFn =
   | ((world: World, dt: number) => void)
   | (() => Generator<number | void, void, number>);
 
-/** Declarative behaviour-tree definition. */
+export interface LeafTaskMeta {
-export type TreeDef =
+  readonly run: LeafFn;
-  | { kind: "leaf"; run: LeafFn }
+}
-  | { kind: "sequential"; children: TreeDef[] }
+
-  | { kind: "parallel"; children: TreeDef[] }
+export type TaskEntityDef = EntityDef<
-  | { kind: "selector"; children: TreeDef[] }
+  typeof Task.type,
-  | { kind: "random"; children: TreeDef[] }
+  LeafTaskMeta | undefined
-  | { kind: "repeat"; child: TreeDef };
+>;
+
+/** Behaviour-tree definition accepted by `buildTree`. */
+export type TreeDef = TaskEntityDef;
+
+// ── Entity task factories ──────────────────────────────
+
+function compactChildren(children: readonly EntityDefChild[]): EntityDef[] {
+  return children.filter(Boolean) as EntityDef[];
+}
+
+function task(
+  kind: typeof Task.type.kind,
+  children: readonly EntityDefChild[] = [],
+  meta?: LeafTaskMeta,
+): TaskEntityDef {
+  return {
+    kind: "entity",
+    component: Task,
+    value: { kind },
+    children: compactChildren(children),
+    meta,
+  };
+}
+
+/** Create a leaf task entity definition. */
+export function leaf(
+  run: LeafFn,
+  children: readonly EntityDefChild[] = [],
+): TaskEntityDef {
+  return task("leaf", children, { run });
+}
+
+/** Create a sequential task entity definition. */
+export function sequential(
+  children: readonly EntityDefChild[] = [],
+): TaskEntityDef {
+  return task("sequential", children);
+}
+
+/** Create a parallel task entity definition. */
+export function parallel(
+  children: readonly EntityDefChild[] = [],
+): TaskEntityDef {
+  return task("parallel", children);
+}
+
+/** Create a selector task entity definition. */
+export function selector(
+  children: readonly EntityDefChild[] = [],
+): TaskEntityDef {
+  return task("selector", children);
+}
+
+/** Create a random task entity definition. */
+export function random(
+  children: readonly EntityDefChild[] = [],
+): TaskEntityDef {
+  return task("random", children);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Create a repeat task entity definition.
+ *
+ * `repeat(child)` and `repeat([child, metadataEntity])` are both supported.
+ * The runner operates only on child entities that have the `Task` component.
+ */
+export function repeat(child: EntityDef): TaskEntityDef;
+export function repeat(children?: readonly EntityDefChild[]): TaskEntityDef;
+export function repeat(
+  childOrChildren: EntityDef | readonly EntityDefChild[] = [],
+): TaskEntityDef {
+  return task(
+    "repeat",
+    Array.isArray(childOrChildren) ? childOrChildren : [childOrChildren],
+  );
+}
 
 // ── Builder ───────────────────────────────────────────
 
 /**
- * Recursively materialize a `TreeDef` into ECS entities and return a
+ * Materialize a behaviour-tree definition into ECS entities and return a
  * fully-wired `TaskRunner`.
  *
+ * Definitions are `EntityDef` trees produced by the task factories (`leaf`,
+ * `sequential`, `parallel`, `selector`, `random`, `repeat`) and generic
+ * single-component entity factories. Non-task child entities are materialized
+ * into the ECS tree but ignored by `TaskRunner` execution.
+ *
  * Leaf `run` functions:
  * - **Plain function** — runs once per tick. `return` = success. `throw` = fail.
  *   `throw Cancel` = cancel.
  * - **Generator function** — each `yield` suspends until next tick. The value
  *   yielded is the desired delay in ms (or `undefined` for next frame).
  *   Generator completion = success. `throw` = fail. `throw Cancel` = cancel.
- *
- * @example
- * ```ts
- * const runner = buildTree(world, {
- *   kind: "repeat",
- *   child: {
- *     kind: "sequential",
- *     children: [
- *       { kind: "leaf", run: () => { doWork(); } },
- *       { kind: "leaf", *run() { yield 1000; doLater(); } },
- *     ],
- *   },
- * });
- * runner.schedule(runner.root);
- * setInterval(() => runner.tick(16), 16);
- * ```
  */
 export function buildTree(world: World, def: TreeDef): TaskRunner {
   const leafHandlers = new Map<Entity, LeafFn>();
   // Track generator iterators for multi-frame leaves
   const generators = new Map<Entity, Generator<number | void, void, number>>();
 
-  function build(def: TreeDef, parent?: Entity): Entity {
+  function build(def: EntityDef, parent?: Entity): Entity {
     const entity = world.spawn();
+    world.add(entity, def.component, def.value);
+
+    if (parent !== undefined) {
+      world.relate(entity, ChildOf, parent);
+    }
+
+    if (def.component === Task) {
+      const taskData = world.get(entity, Task);
+      if (taskData.kind === "leaf") {
+        const run = (def.meta as LeafTaskMeta | undefined)?.run;
+        if (!run) {
+          throw new Error("Leaf task entity is missing a run function");
+        }
+        leafHandlers.set(entity, run);
+      }
+    }
 
-    if (def.kind === "leaf") {
-      world.add(entity, Task, { kind: "leaf" });
-      leafHandlers.set(entity, def.run);
-    } else if (def.kind === "repeat") {
-      world.add(entity, Task, { kind: "repeat" });
-      build(def.child, entity);
-    } else {
-      world.add(entity, Task, { kind: def.kind });
     for (const child of def.children) {
       build(child, entity);
     }
-    }
-
-    if (parent) {
-      world.relate(entity, ChildOf, parent);
-    }
 
     return entity;
   }
 
   const root = build(def);
 
+  if (!world.has(root, Task)) {
+    throw new Error("buildTree root must be a task entity");
+  }
+
   const runner = new TaskRunner(world);
+  runner.root = root;
 
   runner.onLeaf = (_w, entity, dt) => {
     const handler = leafHandlers.get(entity);
@@ -143,8 +217,5 @@ export function buildTree(world: World, def: TreeDef): TaskRunner {
     generators.delete(entity);
   };
 
-  // Stash the root entity on the runner for convenience
-  (runner as any).root = root;
-
   return runner;
 }

src/entity-tree.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+import type { ComponentDef } from "./component";
+import type { Entity } from "./entity";
+import type { RelationshipDef } from "./relationship";
+import type { World } from "./world";
+
+/**
+ * Declarative definition for one entity with one primary component.
+ *
+ * Children are materialized as entities and related to their parent by the
+ * relationship passed to `buildEntityTree`.
+ */
+export interface EntityDef<T extends Record<string, any> = any, M = unknown> {
+  readonly kind: "entity";
+  readonly component: ComponentDef<T>;
+  readonly value?: Partial<T>;
+  readonly children: readonly EntityDef[];
+  readonly meta?: M;
+}
+
+export type EntityDefChild = EntityDef | null | undefined | false;
+
+function compactChildren(children: readonly EntityDefChild[]): EntityDef[] {
+  return children.filter(Boolean) as EntityDef[];
+}
+
+/** Create a single-component entity definition. */
+export function entity<T extends Record<string, any>>(
+  component: ComponentDef<T>,
+  value?: Partial<T>,
+  children?: readonly EntityDefChild[],
+): EntityDef<T>;
+export function entity<T extends Record<string, any>>(
+  component: ComponentDef<T>,
+  children?: readonly EntityDefChild[],
+): EntityDef<T>;
+export function entity<T extends Record<string, any>>(
+  component: ComponentDef<T>,
+  valueOrChildren?: Partial<T> | readonly EntityDefChild[],
+  children: readonly EntityDefChild[] = [],
+): EntityDef<T> {
+  const hasChildrenAsSecondArg = Array.isArray(valueOrChildren);
+
+  const value = hasChildrenAsSecondArg
+    ? undefined
+    : (valueOrChildren as Partial<T> | undefined);
+  const childDefs = hasChildrenAsSecondArg ? valueOrChildren : children;
+
+  return {
+    kind: "entity",
+    component,
+    value,
+    children: compactChildren(childDefs),
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Materialize an `EntityDef` tree into ECS entities.
+ *
+ * The supplied relationship connects child entities to their parent, which lets
+ * callers choose the semantic meaning of the tree edge.
+ */
+export function buildEntityTree(
+  world: World,
+  def: EntityDef,
+  childRelationship: RelationshipDef,
+  parent?: Entity,
+): Entity {
+  const entity = world.spawn();
+  world.add(entity, def.component, def.value);
+
+  if (parent !== undefined) {
+    world.relate(entity, childRelationship, parent);
+  }
+
+  for (const child of def.children) {
+    buildEntityTree(world, child, childRelationship, entity);
+  }
+
+  return entity;
+}

src/index.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ export { query } from "./query";
 export { Query } from "./query";
 export type { Entity } from "./entity";
 export { makeEntity, entityIndex, entityGeneration } from "./entity";
+export { entity, buildEntityTree } from "./entity-tree";
+export type { EntityDef, EntityDefChild } from "./entity-tree";
 export { SparseSet } from "./storage/sparse-set";
 export type {
   WorldEvent,

test/bt.test.ts

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach } from "vitest";
-import { World, type Entity } from "../src/index";
+import { World, defineComponent, entity, type Entity } from "../src/index";
 import {
   Task,
   Scheduled,
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ import {
   Cancelled,
   ChildOf,
   TaskRunner,
+  buildTree,
+  leaf,
+  repeat,
+  sequential,
 } from "../src/bt/index";
 
 // ── Helpers ─────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -54,6 +58,60 @@ function makeSelector(world: World, parent?: Entity): Entity {
   return e;
 }
 
+// ── Entity task factories ───────────────────────────
+describe("Entity task factories", () => {
+  it("materializes non-task child entities and ignores them during execution", () => {
+    const Label = defineComponent("testLabel", { value: "" });
+    const world = new World();
+    const calls: string[] = [];
+
+    const runner = buildTree(
+      world,
+      sequential([
+        entity(Label, { value: "sequence metadata" }),
+        leaf(() => calls.push("a")),
+        entity(Label, { value: "between leaves" }),
+        leaf(() => calls.push("b")),
+      ]),
+    );
+
+    const root = runner.root!;
+    const children = [...world.getRelatedTo(root, ChildOf)];
+    const labels = children
+      .filter((child) => world.has(child, Label))
+      .map((child) => world.get(child, Label).value);
+
+    expect(labels).toEqual(["sequence metadata", "between leaves"]);
+
+    runner.schedule(root);
+    for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) runner.tick();
+
+    expect(calls).toEqual(["a", "b"]);
+    expect(world.has(root, Succeeded)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("repeat works with component child entities beside its task child", () => {
+    const Label = defineComponent("repeatLabel", { value: "" });
+    const world = new World();
+    let calls = 0;
+
+    const runner = buildTree(
+      world,
+      repeat([
+        entity(Label, { value: "repeat metadata" }),
+        leaf(() => {
+          calls++;
+        }),
+      ]),
+    );
+
+    runner.schedule(runner.root!);
+    for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) runner.tick();
+
+    expect(calls).toBeGreaterThan(1);
+  });
+});
+
 // ── Leaf tasks ──────────────────────────────────────
 describe("Leaf tasks", () => {
   let world: World;