very simple prototype

inv_system/endless_slot.gd

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+extends ItemSlot
+# broken experiement, do not use in current state
+var duplicate_item : ItemData
+
+# Called when the node enters the scene tree for the first time.
+func _ready() -> void:
+	pass # Replace with function body.
+
+
+# Called every frame. 'delta' is the elapsed time since the previous frame.
+func _process(delta: float) -> void:
+	if item and not duplicate_item:
+		duplicate_item = item
+	
+	if duplicate_item:
+		item = duplicate_item

inv_system/endless_slot.gd.uid

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+uid://dtstlahhdlaqy

inv_system/inventory.gd

@@ -1,8 +1,16 @@
 extends PanelContainer
+class_name Inventory
 
+@export var inventory_name : String = "Inventory"
+@export var slots : Array[ItemSlot]
+@export_group("Node References")
+@export var grid : GridContainer
+@export var inv_label : Label
 
 # Called when the node enters the scene tree for the first time.
 func _ready() -> void:
+	slots.assign(grid.get_children())
+	inv_label.text = inventory_name
 	pass # Replace with function body.
 
 
@@ -20,3 +28,15 @@ func _notification(what: int) -> void:
 			if data_bk:
 				data_bk.icon.show()
 				data_bk = null
+
+#attempts to add the provided item to the inventory, returns true on success
+func add_item(item : ItemData) -> bool:
+	for slot in slots:
+		if slot.item == null:
+			slot.item = item
+			slot.update_ui()
+			return true # item placed successfully
+	return false # theres no space to add the item
+	
+	
+	

inv_system/item_slot.gd

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 extends Panel
+class_name ItemSlot
 
 @export var icon : TextureRect
 @export var item: ItemData

inv_system/item_slot.tscn

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=3 format=3 uid="uid://dgqs20xf7l8c"]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://cpd04flfh5nlc" path="res://inv_system/item_slot.gd" id="1_m11ft"]
+[ext_resource type="Texture2D" uid="uid://b7jp850fqpa0j" path="res://icon.svg" id="3_0tnt0"]
+
+[node name="ItemSlot" type="Panel" node_paths=PackedStringArray("icon")]
+custom_minimum_size = Vector2(64, 64)
+script = ExtResource("1_m11ft")
+icon = NodePath("Icon")
+
+[node name="Icon" type="TextureRect" parent="."]
+layout_mode = 1
+anchors_preset = -1
+anchor_left = 0.1
+anchor_top = 0.1
+anchor_right = 0.8
+anchor_bottom = 0.9
+offset_right = 6.4000015
+grow_horizontal = 2
+grow_vertical = 2
+texture = ExtResource("3_0tnt0")
+expand_mode = 3
+stretch_mode = 4