raylib is a simple and easy-to-use C library for videogame programming that prioritizes minimal dependencies and broad platform support.
The library solves the problem of getting graphics, audio, and input working quickly across many platforms without requiring external dependencies. It bundles all necessary libraries internally and provides a straightforward API inspired by Borland BGI and XNA. The core approach uses hardware-accelerated OpenGL rendering with a unique abstraction layer called rlgl, but also includes a software renderer backend for systems without OpenGL support. It covers 2D and 3D graphics, audio playback with streaming, shader support including postprocessing, skeletal animation for 3D models, and a math module for vector and matrix operations.
raylib suits developers prototyping games, building graphical applications, or learning game development without the overhead of larger engines. It works well on embedded systems like Raspberry Pi and ESP32, and runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and WebAssembly. The library is intentionally spartan—no visual editor, no debug interface, just code—which appeals to programmers who prefer direct control. The README acknowledges design limitations by choice: single-window rendering, no multi-window support, lower font quality than alternatives using Freetype2 or HarfBuzz, and no support for right-to-left text, ligatures, or emoji. These constraints keep the codebase simple and the learning curve shallow.
Development activity shows consistent engagement with the codebase through regular updates and maintenance. The project maintains a large collection of over 140 code examples demonstrating core features. Community adoption is evident through bindings to over 70 programming languages, indicating sustained interest beyond the C implementation itself.
