Experiment with replacing weakrefs in AI blackboard with deleting signals, ideally making it easier to work with and harder to cause hard deletes (#74791)

## About The Pull Request

Replaces weakref usage in AI blackboards with deleting signals

All blackboard var setting must go through setters rather than directly

## Why It's Good For The Game

This both makes it a ton easier to develop AI for, and also makes it
harder for hard deletes to sneak in, as has been seen with recent 515
prs showing hard deletes in AI blackboards

(To quantify "making it easier to develop AI", I found multiple bugs in
existing AI code due to the usage of weakrefs.)

I'm looking for `@Jacquerel` `@tralezab` 's opinions on the matter, also
maybe `@LemonInTheDark` if they're interested

## Changelog

🆑 Melbert
refactor: Mob ai refactored once again
/🆑

code/modules/mob/living/basic/farm_animals/cow/_cow.dm

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
 	udder_component()
 	setup_eating()
 	. = ..()
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_FOODS] = food_types
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_BASIC_FOODS, food_types)
 
 ///wrapper for the udder component addition so you can have uniquely uddered cow subtypes
 /mob/living/basic/cow/proc/udder_component()
@@ -86,5 +86,5 @@
 /mob/living/basic/cow/proc/set_tip_react_blackboard(mob/living/carbon/tipper)
 	if(!HAS_TRAIT_FROM(src, TRAIT_IMMOBILIZED, TIPPED_OVER) || !ai_controller)
 		return
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_TIP_REACTING] = TRUE
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_TIPPER] = tipper
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_BASIC_MOB_TIP_REACTING, TRUE)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_BASIC_MOB_TIPPER, tipper)

code/modules/mob/living/basic/farm_animals/deer.dm

@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@
 	. = ..()
 	AddElement(/datum/element/footstep, footstep_type = FOOTSTEP_MOB_SHOE)
 	var/time_to_freeze_for = (rand(5, 10) SECONDS)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_STATIONARY_SECONDS] = time_to_freeze_for
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_STATIONARY_COOLDOWN] = (time_to_freeze_for * (rand(3, 5)))
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_STATIONARY_TARGETS] = stationary_scary_things
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_STATIONARY_SECONDS, time_to_freeze_for)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_STATIONARY_COOLDOWN, (time_to_freeze_for * (rand(3, 5))))
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_STATIONARY_TARGETS, stationary_scary_things)
 
 /datum/ai_controller/basic_controller/deer
 	blackboard = list(

code/modules/mob/living/basic/festivus_pole.dm

@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
 	AddElement(/datum/element/death_drops, list(/obj/item/stack/rods))
 	var/datum/action/cooldown/mob_cooldown/charge_apc/charge_ability = new(src)
 	charge_ability.Grant(src)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_FESTIVE_APC] = WEAKREF(charge_ability)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_FESTIVE_APC, charge_ability)
 
 /datum/ai_controller/basic_controller/festivus_pole
 	blackboard = list(
@@ -98,8 +98,7 @@
 	always_reset_target = TRUE
 
 /datum/ai_behavior/hunt_target/apcs/target_caught(mob/living/basic/hunter, obj/machinery/power/apc/hunted)
-	var/datum/weakref/ability_weakref =  hunter.ai_controller.blackboard[BB_FESTIVE_APC]
-	var/datum/action/cooldown/mob_cooldown/charge_ability = ability_weakref?.resolve()
+	var/datum/action/cooldown/mob_cooldown/charge_ability = hunter.ai_controller.blackboard[BB_FESTIVE_APC]
 	if(isnull(charge_ability))
 		return
 	charge_ability.Activate(hunted)

code/modules/mob/living/basic/heretic/star_gazer.dm

@@ -86,8 +86,7 @@
 
 /datum/ai_behavior/basic_melee_attack/star_gazer/perform(seconds_per_tick, datum/ai_controller/controller, target_key, targetting_datum_key, hiding_location_key)
 	. = ..()
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_target = controller.blackboard[target_key]
-	var/atom/target = weak_target?.resolve()
+	var/atom/target = controller.blackboard[target_key]
 	var/mob/living/living_pawn = controller.pawn
 
 	if(!isliving(target))

code/modules/mob/living/basic/lavaland/bileworm/_bileworm.dm

@@ -56,6 +56,6 @@
 	devour.Grant(src)
 	var/datum/action/adjust_vision/bileworm/adjust_vision = new(src)
 	adjust_vision.Grant(src)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BILEWORM_SPEW_BILE] = WEAKREF(spew_bile)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BILEWORM_RESURFACE] = WEAKREF(resurface)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BILEWORM_DEVOUR] = WEAKREF(devour)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_BILEWORM_SPEW_BILE, spew_bile)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_BILEWORM_RESURFACE, resurface)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_BILEWORM_DEVOUR, devour)

code/modules/mob/living/basic/lavaland/bileworm/bileworm_actions.dm

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 		to_chat(burrower, span_warning("Couldn't burrow anywhere near the target!"))
 		if(burrower.ai_controller?.ai_status == AI_STATUS_ON)
 			//this is a valid reason to give up on a target
-			burrower.ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_CURRENT_TARGET] = null
+			burrower.ai_controller.clear_blackboard_key(BB_BASIC_MOB_CURRENT_TARGET)
 		return
 	playsound(burrower, 'sound/effects/break_stone.ogg', 50, TRUE)
 	new /obj/effect/temp_visual/mook_dust(get_turf(burrower))

code/modules/mob/living/basic/lavaland/bileworm/bileworm_ai.dm

@@ -13,17 +13,15 @@
 
 /datum/ai_planning_subtree/bileworm_attack/SelectBehaviors(datum/ai_controller/controller, seconds_per_tick)
 
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_target = controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_CURRENT_TARGET]
-	var/mob/living/target = weak_target?.resolve()
+	var/mob/living/target = controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_CURRENT_TARGET]
 	if(QDELETED(target))
 		return
 
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_action = controller.blackboard[BB_BILEWORM_RESURFACE]
-	var/datum/action/cooldown/mob_cooldown/resurface = weak_action?.resolve()
+	var/datum/action/cooldown/mob_cooldown/resurface = controller.blackboard[BB_BILEWORM_RESURFACE]
 
 	//because one ability is always INFINITY cooldown, this actually works to check which ability should be used
 	//sometimes it will try to spew bile on infinity cooldown, but that's okay because as soon as resurface is ready it will attempt that
-	if(resurface && resurface.next_use_time <= world.time)
+	if(!QDELETED(resurface) && resurface.next_use_time <= world.time)
 		controller.queue_behavior(/datum/ai_behavior/targeted_mob_ability/and_plan_execute, BB_BILEWORM_RESURFACE, BB_BASIC_MOB_CURRENT_TARGET)
 	else
 		controller.queue_behavior(/datum/ai_behavior/targeted_mob_ability/and_plan_execute, BB_BILEWORM_SPEW_BILE, BB_BASIC_MOB_CURRENT_TARGET)
@@ -33,8 +31,7 @@
 
 /datum/ai_planning_subtree/bileworm_execute/SelectBehaviors(datum/ai_controller/controller, seconds_per_tick)
 
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_target = controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_EXECUTION_TARGET]
-	var/mob/living/target = weak_target?.resolve()
+	var/mob/living/target = controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_EXECUTION_TARGET]
 	if(QDELETED(target) || target.stat < UNCONSCIOUS)
 		return
 

code/modules/mob/living/basic/pets/dog.dm

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 
 /datum/pet_command/point_targetting/attack/dog/set_command_active(mob/living/parent, mob/living/commander)
 	. = ..()
-	parent.ai_controller.blackboard[BB_DOG_HARASS_HARM] = TRUE
+	parent.ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_DOG_HARASS_HARM, TRUE)
 
 /mob/living/basic/pet/dog
 	mob_biotypes = MOB_ORGANIC|MOB_BEAST
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@
 /mob/living/basic/pet/dog/corgi/proc/stop_deadchat_plays()
 	var/controller_type = initial(ai_controller)
 	ai_controller = new controller_type(src)
-	ai_controller?.blackboard[BB_DOG_IS_SLOW] = is_slow
+	ai_controller?.set_blackboard_key(BB_DOG_IS_SLOW, is_slow)
 
 /mob/living/basic/pet/dog/corgi/handle_atom_del(atom/A)
 	if(A == inventory_head)
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(strippable_corgi_items, create_strippable_list(list(
 		held_state = "old_corgi"
 		icon_dead = "old_corgi_dead"
 		desc = "At a ripe old age of [record_age], Ian's not as spry as he used to be, but he'll always be the HoP's beloved corgi." //RIP
-		ai_controller?.blackboard[BB_DOG_IS_SLOW] = TRUE
+		ai_controller?.set_blackboard_key(BB_DOG_IS_SLOW, TRUE)
 		is_slow = TRUE
 		speed = 2
 

code/modules/mob/living/basic/space_fauna/carp/carp.dm

@@ -118,8 +118,9 @@
 
 	teleport = new(src)
 	teleport.Grant(src)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_CARP_RIFT] = WEAKREF(teleport)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_OBSTACLE_TARGETTING_WHITELIST] = allowed_obstacle_targets
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_CARP_RIFT, teleport)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_OBSTACLE_TARGETTING_WHITELIST, allowed_obstacle_targets)
+
 
 /mob/living/basic/carp/Destroy()
 	QDEL_NULL(teleport)
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@
 /mob/living/basic/carp/proc/setup_eating()
 	AddElement(/datum/element/basic_eating, 10, 0, null, desired_food)
 	AddElement(/datum/element/basic_eating, 0, 10, BRUTE, desired_trash) // We are killing our planet
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_FOODS] = desired_food + desired_trash
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_BASIC_FOODS, desired_food + desired_trash)
 
 /// Set a random colour on the carp, override to do something else
 /mob/living/basic/carp/proc/apply_colour()
@@ -151,9 +152,16 @@
 /mob/living/basic/carp/ranged_secondary_attack(atom/atom_target, modifiers)
 	teleport.Trigger(target = atom_target)
 
-/// Gives the carp a list of destinations to try and travel between when it has nothing better to do
-/mob/living/basic/carp/proc/migrate_to(list/migration_points)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_CARP_MIGRATION_PATH] = migration_points
+/// Gives the carp a list of weakrefs of destinations to try and travel between when it has nothing better to do
+/mob/living/basic/carp/proc/migrate_to(list/datum/weakref/migration_points)
+	var/list/actual_points = list()
+	for(var/datum/weakref/point_ref as anything in migration_points)
+		var/turf/point_resolved = point_ref.resolve()
+		if(QDELETED(point_resolved))
+			return // invalid list, we can't migrate to this
+		actual_points += point_resolved
+
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_CARP_MIGRATION_PATH, actual_points)
 
 /**
  * Holographic carp from the holodeck

code/modules/mob/living/basic/space_fauna/carp/carp_ai_actions.dm

@@ -42,8 +42,7 @@
 /datum/ai_planning_subtree/find_nearest_magicarp_spell_target
 
 /datum/ai_planning_subtree/find_nearest_magicarp_spell_target/SelectBehaviors(datum/ai_controller/controller, seconds_per_tick)
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_action = controller.blackboard[BB_MAGICARP_SPELL]
-	var/datum/action/cooldown/using_action = weak_action?.resolve()
+	var/datum/action/cooldown/using_action = controller.blackboard[BB_MAGICARP_SPELL]
 	if (QDELETED(using_action))
 		return
 	if (!using_action.IsAvailable())

code/modules/mob/living/basic/space_fauna/carp/carp_ai_migration.dm

@@ -22,8 +22,7 @@
 	if (!length(migration_points))
 		return
 
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_target = controller.blackboard[BB_CARP_MIGRATION_TARGET]
-	var/turf/moving_to = weak_target?.resolve()
+	var/turf/moving_to = controller.blackboard[BB_CARP_MIGRATION_TARGET]
 
 	// If we don't have a target or are close enough to it, pick a new one
 	if (isnull(moving_to) || get_dist(controller.pawn, moving_to) <= CARP_DESTINATION_SEARCH_RANGE)
@@ -48,13 +47,12 @@
 	var/list/blackboard_points = controller.blackboard[path_key]
 	var/list/potential_migration_points = blackboard_points.Copy()
 	while (length(potential_migration_points))
-		var/datum/weakref/weak_destination = popleft(potential_migration_points)
-		var/turf/potential_destination = weak_destination.resolve()
+		var/turf/potential_destination = popleft(potential_migration_points)
 		if (!isnull(potential_destination) && get_dist(controller.pawn, potential_destination) > CARP_DESTINATION_SEARCH_RANGE)
-			controller.blackboard[target_key] = weak_destination
+			controller.set_blackboard_key(target_key, potential_destination)
 			finish_action(controller, succeeded = TRUE)
 			return
-		controller.blackboard[path_key] = potential_migration_points.Copy()
+		controller.set_blackboard_key(path_key, potential_migration_points.Copy())
 
 	finish_action(controller, succeeded = FALSE)
 

code/modules/mob/living/basic/space_fauna/carp/carp_ai_rift_actions.dm

@@ -12,14 +12,9 @@
 	if (!rift_behaviour)
 		CRASH("Forgot to specify rift behaviour for [src]")
 
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_target = controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_CURRENT_TARGET]
-	var/mob/living/target = weak_target?.resolve()
-	if (!target)
-		return
-
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_action = controller.blackboard[BB_CARP_RIFT]
-	var/datum/action/cooldown/using_action = weak_action?.resolve()
-	if (isnull(using_action) || !using_action.IsAvailable())
+	var/mob/living/target = controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_CURRENT_TARGET]
+	var/datum/action/cooldown/using_action = controller.blackboard[BB_CARP_RIFT]
+	if (QDELETED(target) || QDELETED(using_action) || !using_action.IsAvailable())
 		return
 
 	controller.queue_behavior(rift_behaviour, BB_CARP_RIFT, BB_BASIC_MOB_CURRENT_TARGET)
@@ -53,20 +48,12 @@
 /datum/ai_behavior/make_carp_rift
 
 /datum/ai_behavior/make_carp_rift/setup(datum/ai_controller/controller, ability_key, target_key)
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_action = controller.blackboard[ability_key]
-	var/datum/action/cooldown/mob_cooldown/lesser_carp_rift/ability = weak_action?.resolve()
-	if (!ability)
-		return FALSE
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_target = controller.blackboard[target_key]
-	var/atom/target = weak_target?.resolve()
-	return target
+	return controller.blackboard[ability_key] && controller.blackboard[target_key]
 
 /datum/ai_behavior/make_carp_rift/perform(seconds_per_tick, datum/ai_controller/controller, ability_key, target_key)
 	. = ..()
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_action = controller.blackboard[ability_key]
-	var/datum/action/cooldown/mob_cooldown/lesser_carp_rift/ability = weak_action?.resolve()
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_target = controller.blackboard[target_key]
-	var/atom/target = weak_target?.resolve()
+	var/datum/action/cooldown/mob_cooldown/lesser_carp_rift/ability = controller.blackboard[ability_key]
+	var/atom/target = controller.blackboard[target_key]
 
 	if (!validate_target(controller, target, ability))
 		finish_action(controller, FALSE, ability_key, target_key)
@@ -187,9 +174,8 @@
 	var/minimum_distance = 2
 
 /datum/ai_planning_subtree/shortcut_to_target_through_carp_rift/SelectBehaviors(datum/ai_controller/controller, seconds_per_tick)
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_target = controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_CURRENT_TARGET]
-	var/mob/living/target = weak_target?.resolve()
-	if (isnull(target))
+	var/mob/living/target = controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_CURRENT_TARGET]
+	if (QDELETED(target))
 		return
 
 	var/distance_to_target = get_dist(controller.pawn, target)

code/modules/mob/living/basic/space_fauna/carp/magicarp.dm

@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(magicarp_spell_colours, list(
 	spell.projectile_type = spell_type
 	spell.button_icon_state = initial(spell_type.icon_state)
 	spell.Grant(src)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_MAGICARP_SPELL] = WEAKREF(spell)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_MAGICARP_SPELL, spell)
 	assign_spell_ai(spell_type)
 
 /// If you have certain spells, use a different targetting datum
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(magicarp_spell_colours, list(
 		/obj/projectile/magic/resurrection = MAGICARP_SPELL_CORPSES,
 	)
 
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_MAGICARP_SPELL_SPECIAL_TARGETTING] = spell_special_targetting[spell_type]
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_MAGICARP_SPELL_SPECIAL_TARGETTING, spell_special_targetting[spell_type])
 
 /// Shoot when you click away from you
 /mob/living/basic/carp/magic/RangedAttack(atom/atom_target, modifiers)
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(magicarp_spell_colours, list(
 	chaos_bolt.permitted_projectiles = allowed_projectile_types
 	chaos_bolt.Grant(src)
 	spell = chaos_bolt
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_MAGICARP_SPELL] = spell
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_MAGICARP_SPELL, spell)
 	RegisterSignal(spell, COMSIG_ACTION_TRIGGER, PROC_REF(apply_colour))
 
 /// Has a more limited spell pool but can appear from gold slime cores

code/modules/mob/living/basic/space_fauna/faithless.dm

@@ -67,8 +67,7 @@
 
 /datum/ai_behavior/basic_melee_attack/faithless/perform(seconds_per_tick, datum/ai_controller/controller, target_key, targetting_datum_key, hiding_location_key)
 	. = ..()
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_target = controller.blackboard[target_key]
-	var/atom/target = weak_target?.resolve()
+	var/atom/target = controller.blackboard[target_key]
 	var/mob/living/living_pawn = controller.pawn
 
 	if(!isliving(target))

code/modules/mob/living/basic/space_fauna/garden_gnome.dm

@@ -119,13 +119,8 @@
 /mob/living/basic/garden_gnome/proc/ai_retaliate_behaviour(mob/living/attacker)
 	if (!istype(attacker))
 		return
-	var/list/enemy_refs
 	for (var/mob/living/basic/garden_gnome/potential_gnome in oview(src, 7))
-		enemy_refs = potential_gnome.ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_RETALIATE_LIST]
-		if (!enemy_refs)
-			enemy_refs = list()
-		enemy_refs |= WEAKREF(attacker)
-		potential_gnome.ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_RETALIATE_LIST] = enemy_refs
+		potential_gnome.ai_controller.insert_blackboard_key_lazylist(BB_BASIC_MOB_RETALIATE_LIST, attacker)
 
 /datum/ai_controller/basic_controller/garden_gnome
 	blackboard = list(

code/modules/mob/living/basic/space_fauna/giant_spider/giant_spider.dm

@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
 	var/datum/action/cooldown/lay_web/webbing = new web_type(src)
 	webbing.webbing_time *= web_speed
 	webbing.Grant(src)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_SPIDER_WEB_ACTION] = WEAKREF(webbing)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_SPIDER_WEB_ACTION, webbing)
 
 /mob/living/basic/giant_spider/Login()
 	. = ..()

code/modules/mob/living/basic/space_fauna/giant_spider/spider_subtrees.dm

@@ -15,16 +15,15 @@
 /datum/ai_behavior/find_unwebbed_turf/perform(seconds_per_tick, datum/ai_controller/controller)
 	. = ..()
 	var/mob/living/spider = controller.pawn
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_target = controller.blackboard[target_key]
-	var/atom/current_target = weak_target?.resolve()
+	var/atom/current_target = controller.blackboard[target_key]
 	if (current_target && !(locate(/obj/structure/spider/stickyweb) in current_target))
 		finish_action(controller, succeeded = FALSE) // Already got a target
 		return
 
-	controller.blackboard[target_key] = null
+	controller.clear_blackboard_key(target_key)
 	var/turf/our_turf = get_turf(spider)
 	if (is_valid_web_turf(our_turf))
-		controller.blackboard[target_key] = WEAKREF(our_turf)
+		controller.set_blackboard_key(target_key, our_turf)
 		finish_action(controller, succeeded = TRUE)
 		return
 
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@
 		finish_action(controller, succeeded = FALSE)
 		return
 
-	controller.blackboard[target_key] = WEAKREF(get_closest_atom(/turf/, potential_turfs, our_turf))
+	controller.set_blackboard_key(target_key, get_closest_atom(/turf/, potential_turfs, our_turf))
 	finish_action(controller, succeeded = TRUE)
 
 /datum/ai_behavior/find_unwebbed_turf/proc/is_valid_web_turf(turf/target_turf, mob/living/spider)
@@ -54,11 +53,9 @@
 	var/target_key = BB_SPIDER_WEB_TARGET
 
 /datum/ai_planning_subtree/spin_web/SelectBehaviors(datum/ai_controller/controller, seconds_per_tick)
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_action = controller.blackboard[action_key]
-	var/datum/action/cooldown/using_action = weak_action?.resolve()
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_target = controller.blackboard[target_key]
-	var/turf/target_turf = weak_target?.resolve()
-	if (!using_action || !target_turf)
+	var/datum/action/cooldown/using_action = controller.blackboard[action_key]
+	var/turf/target_turf = controller.blackboard[target_key]
+	if (QDELETED(using_action) || QDELETED(target_turf))
 		return
 	controller.queue_behavior(/datum/ai_behavior/spin_web, action_key, target_key)
 	return SUBTREE_RETURN_FINISH_PLANNING
@@ -70,10 +67,8 @@
 	behavior_flags = AI_BEHAVIOR_REQUIRE_MOVEMENT | AI_BEHAVIOR_CAN_PLAN_DURING_EXECUTION
 
 /datum/ai_behavior/spin_web/setup(datum/ai_controller/controller, action_key, target_key)
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_action = controller.blackboard[action_key]
-	var/datum/action/cooldown/web_action = weak_action?.resolve()
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_target = controller.blackboard[target_key]
-	var/turf/target_turf = weak_target?.resolve()
+	var/datum/action/cooldown/web_action = controller.blackboard[action_key]
+	var/turf/target_turf = controller.blackboard[target_key]
 	if (!web_action || !target_turf)
 		return FALSE
 
@@ -82,10 +77,9 @@
 
 /datum/ai_behavior/spin_web/perform(seconds_per_tick, datum/ai_controller/controller, action_key, target_key)
 	. = ..()
-	var/datum/weakref/weak_action = controller.blackboard[action_key]
-	var/datum/action/cooldown/web_action = weak_action?.resolve()
+	var/datum/action/cooldown/web_action = controller.blackboard[action_key]
 	finish_action(controller, succeeded = web_action?.Trigger(), action_key = action_key, target_key = target_key)
 
 /datum/ai_behavior/spin_web/finish_action(datum/ai_controller/controller, succeeded, action_key, target_key)
-	controller.blackboard[target_key] = null
+	controller.clear_blackboard_key(target_key)
 	return ..()

code/modules/mob/living/basic/space_fauna/meteor_heart/meteor_heart.dm

@@ -40,11 +40,11 @@
 
 	spikes = new(src)
 	spikes.Grant(src)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_METEOR_HEART_GROUND_SPIKES] = WEAKREF(spikes)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_METEOR_HEART_GROUND_SPIKES, spikes)
 
 	traps = new(src)
 	traps.Grant(src)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_METEOR_HEART_SPINE_TRAPS] = WEAKREF(traps)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_METEOR_HEART_SPINE_TRAPS, traps)
 
 	ai_controller.set_ai_status(AI_STATUS_OFF)
 

code/modules/mob/living/basic/space_fauna/wumborian_fugu/inflation.dm

@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
 	fugu.melee_damage_upper = 20
 	fugu.status_flags |= GODMODE
 	fugu.obj_damage = 60
-	fugu.ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_FLEEING] = FALSE
+	fugu.ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_BASIC_MOB_FLEEING, FALSE)
 	fugu.ai_controller.CancelActions()
 
 /datum/status_effect/inflated/on_remove()
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
 	if (fugu.stat != DEAD)
 		fugu.icon_state = "Fugu0"
 	fugu.obj_damage = 0
-	fugu.ai_controller.blackboard[BB_BASIC_MOB_FLEEING] = TRUE
+	fugu.ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_BASIC_MOB_FLEEING, TRUE)
 	fugu.ai_controller.CancelActions()
 
 /// Remove status effect if we die

code/modules/mob/living/basic/space_fauna/wumborian_fugu/wumborian_fugu.dm

@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@
 	add_traits(list(TRAIT_LAVA_IMMUNE, TRAIT_ASHSTORM_IMMUNE), ROUNDSTART_TRAIT)
 	expand = new(src)
 	expand.Grant(src)
-	ai_controller.blackboard[BB_FUGU_INFLATE] = WEAKREF(expand)
+	ai_controller.set_blackboard_key(BB_FUGU_INFLATE, expand)
 
 /mob/living/basic/wumborian_fugu/Destroy()
 	QDEL_NULL(expand)

code/modules/mob/living/basic/vermin/mouse.dm

@@ -379,8 +379,7 @@
 /datum/ai_planning_subtree/flee_target/mouse
 
 /datum/ai_planning_subtree/flee_target/mouse/SelectBehaviors(datum/ai_controller/controller, seconds_per_tick)
-	var/datum/weakref/hunting_weakref = controller.blackboard[BB_CURRENT_HUNTING_TARGET]
-	var/atom/hunted_cheese = hunting_weakref?.resolve()
+	var/atom/hunted_cheese = controller.blackboard[BB_CURRENT_HUNTING_TARGET]
 	if (!isnull(hunted_cheese))
 		return // We see some cheese, which is more important than our life
 	return ..()