Collection of C99 (single) header libraries, allowing for fast graphics apps developement, from easy 2d-renderers, through gui applications to performant games.
Light Framework is built around a small set of principles intended to make low-level graphics and application development practical, predictable, and enjoyable in pure C99.
Conciseness
The API is designed to stay minimal and focused. Libraries expose only the functionality required to solve common problems without unnecessary abstractions, boilerplate, or hidden behavior.
Stability
The framework prioritizes long-term API consistency. Interfaces are designed to remain reliable across versions, allowing projects to evolve without constant rewrites or breaking changes.
Ease of Use
The framework emphasizes straightforward integration and fast iteration. Most modules are distributed as single-header libraries, require minimal setup, and expose intuitive APIs suitable for both prototypes and larger applications.
Performance-Oriented Design
The libraries are implemented with real-time applications in mind. Abstractions are lightweight, allocations are kept explicit whenever possible, and systems are designed to work efficiently with modern graphics APIs and game loops.
Modularity
Each library is separate, composable being. You can use only the components you need — from low-level rendering and input handling to higher-level UI and rendering utilities — without pulling in the entire framework.
Light framework consists of two types of libraries:
- core ones, that depends on the platform (OS, supported graphic APIS)
- higher level ones, that depends on core libraries, and implements some commonly used behavior
| Library File | Function |
|---|---|
| graphics.h | Cross platform, graphics api independent RHI |
| input.h | Cross platform, input library allowing reading input from mouses, keyboards and gamepads |
| linear_algebra.h | Linear algebra library |
| user_interface.h | Node-based, data driven, user inteface system |
| Library File | Function |
|---|---|
| synchronised_window.h | Window wrapper, with builtin frames-in-flight synchronisation |
| font.h | Font object, which can be queried for glyphs metrics, creates gpu font atlas texutre |
| shapes_rendering.h | Immediate-mode rendering pipeline for basic 2D shapes |
| user_interface_rendering.h | Immediate-mode rendering pipeline for user_interface.h |
Big core systems have a separate documentation inside documentation folder.
Smaller libraries have big header comment, describing what and how.
Most of libraries provided are single-header libraries. To build such a library in a blank .c file you write:
#define LIGHT_XXX_IMPL
// here also additional compile flags
#include "light/XXX.h"
#endifEach file, have a header with a Code info section - see it for more details.
Also core libraries may require some extra third-party depedencies - in case your build fails, see Code info.
There are also header-only libraries that does not require such a building step.