libtcod vs ncurses

Struggling to choose between libtcod and ncurses? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

libtcod is a Gaming Software solution with tags like roguelike, game-development, cc, python, procedural-generation, pathfinding, fieldofview, random-number-generation.

It boasts features such as Roguelike game engine, Procedural content generation, Field-of-view calculations, Pathfinding algorithms, Pseudorandom number generation, Customizable graphical user interface, Mouse and keyboard input handling, True-color console rendering, Customizable color palettes, Unicode text rendering, Portable across platforms and pros including Open source and free, Active community support, Well documented, Modular and extensible, Supports multiple languages (C, C++, Python, etc), Cross-platform compatibility, High performance, Simplifies roguelike development.

On the other hand, ncurses is a Development product tagged with textbased, terminal, user-interface, tui, curses, menus, forms.

Its standout features include Text-based user interface library, Supports color, key handling, mouse support, menus, forms, panels, etc, Portable - runs on many operating systems, Wide language support - C, C++, Ada, Python, Perl, Ruby, etc, Built-in support for internationalization, and it shines with pros like Lightweight, low resource usage, Very customizable and flexible, Mature and stable codebase, Good documentation, Active open source community.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

libtcod

libtcod

libtcod is an open source C/C++ and Python library for developing roguelike games and procedural content generation. It handles input, graphical output, and provides helpful functions like field-of-view, pathfinding, random number generation, and more.

Categories:
roguelike game-development cc python procedural-generation pathfinding fieldofview random-number-generation

Libtcod Features

  1. Roguelike game engine
  2. Procedural content generation
  3. Field-of-view calculations
  4. Pathfinding algorithms
  5. Pseudorandom number generation
  6. Customizable graphical user interface
  7. Mouse and keyboard input handling
  8. True-color console rendering
  9. Customizable color palettes
  10. Unicode text rendering
  11. Portable across platforms

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Open source and free

Active community support

Well documented

Modular and extensible

Supports multiple languages (C, C++, Python, etc)

Cross-platform compatibility

High performance

Simplifies roguelike development

Cons

Steep learning curve

Limited to console/terminal graphics

Not suitable for non-roguelike games

Lacks some advanced graphics features

Documentation could be improved

No official IDE integration


ncurses

ncurses

ncurses (new curses) is a programming library that provides an API to display text-based user interfaces in a terminal. It offers functions to manipulate the text, colors, and cursor to create interfaces like menus, forms, and more.

Categories:
textbased terminal user-interface tui curses menus forms

Ncurses Features

  1. Text-based user interface library
  2. Supports color, key handling, mouse support, menus, forms, panels, etc
  3. Portable - runs on many operating systems
  4. Wide language support - C, C++, Ada, Python, Perl, Ruby, etc
  5. Built-in support for internationalization

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight, low resource usage

Very customizable and flexible

Mature and stable codebase

Good documentation

Active open source community

Cons

Text-only, no native graphical capabilities

Steep learning curve

Not ideal for complex UIs

Limited built-in widgets