raylib

Raylib is an open‑source, cross‑platform programming library designed to serve as a simple and easy‑to‑use API for video game development. The project was created by Ramon Santamaria in 2013, with the goal of providing a lightweight alternative to larger game engines while still offering modern graphics, audio, and input functionality. Raylib is written in ANSI C and exposes a C API, making it compatible with a wide range of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and Raspberry Pi. From version 2.0 onward, Raylib incorporates bindings for numerous other programming languages such as C++, C#, Go, Lua, Python, Rust, and Swift, broadening its accessibility for developers with different language preferences.

The library focuses on simplicity; its design encourages learning by code example rather than detailed documentation. Core features encompass 2D and 3D rendering, physics utilities, sound playback, and text handling. Raylib’s modular architecture allows developers to include only the components they need, thereby reducing binary size. It supports modern OpenGL for graphics rendering, WGL/OpenGL ES on Windows and mobile, and Vulkan through optional wrappers. Raylib also ships with a small source‑based IDE called RLGL and a built‑in shader editor.

Educational use has been a significant driver of Raylib’s adoption. It is commonly included in introductory programming courses and tutorials for teaching graphics concepts. The library’s straightforward API and single‑file distribution make it a popular choice for rapid prototyping, hobby projects, and small‑scale commercial games. The project lives under the zlib/libpng license, enabling free use in both open‑source and proprietary applications.