Allenhex

Allenhex is a software library and toolkit centered on hexagonal tiling and hex-grid computations. It provides data structures, algorithms, and rendering utilities for working with hex grids in games, simulations, and geographic-style applications.

Core concepts supported include multiple coordinate systems—axial, cube, and offset—along with conversion between them. The library offers neighbor lookup, distance calculation, coordinate normalization, and range queries. Pathfinding on hex grids is supported through algorithms such as A*, with options for custom movement costs and wrap-around boards. Rendering components target 2D hex boards and can export to common image or SVG formats, as well as supplying tile metadata for UI layers. Data interchange utilities support common formats used in games and GIS-like workflows.

Allenhex is designed to be modular and cross-language. The core engine is written in C++, with bindings available for Python and JavaScript. This allows integration into desktop games, web apps, and educational tools.

History and reception: The project originated in a collaborative research effort in the early 2010s and has evolved into an open-source ecosystem with contributions from a global community. It has been used by indie developers and educators to prototype hex-based board games, simulations of cellular automata on hex grids, and mapping tools that require hex tiling.

Related topics include hexagonal grids, axial and cube coordinate systems, and hex-grid pathfinding.