StageXL

StageXL

StageXL is an open-source Flash runtime written in JavaScript that allows you to create hardware-accelerated 2D content for the web. It provides a Flash-like API and workflow for building animations, games, and other interactive content to run cross-platform in browsers.
StageXL image
flash javascript animation 2d games

StageXL: Open-Source Flash Runtime for Cross-Platform 2D Content

StageXL is an open-source Flash runtime written in JavaScript that allows you to create hardware-accelerated 2D content for the web. It provides a Flash-like API and workflow for building animations, games, and other interactive content to run cross-platform in browsers.

What is StageXL?

StageXL is an open-source Flash runtime engine written entirely in JavaScript. It allows developers to create hardware-accelerated 2D content for the web using a Flash-like API and workflow. StageXL implements major parts of the Flash API to provide a familiar development experience for those coming from a Flash background.

Some key capabilities and benefits of StageXL include:

  • Hardware-accelerated 2D canvas rendering for better performance
  • Familiar Flash display list architecture and API
  • Support for timeline-based animations and tweening
  • A particle system, filters, and other creative tools
  • Node.js integration for server-side rendering
  • Cross-platform and browser compatible (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Edge, etc)
  • Open source with an MIT license

If you have experience building animations, games, and interactive content in Flash, StageXL allows you to apply that knowledge to build web-based projects with HTML5. And you can integrate newer web technologies like WebGL shaders. The API and architecture will feel familiar to Flash developers, easing the transition. Overall, StageXL aims to bring a Flash-style workflow and toolset to creating lightweight, responsive canvas content for the modern web.

StageXL Features

Features

  1. Hardware accelerated 2D rendering using WebGL
  2. Flash/ActionScript like API
  3. Built-in animation and tweening engine
  4. Mouse and touch input support
  5. Sound and video playback
  6. Bitmap and vector graphics support
  7. Built-in filters and blend modes
  8. Sprite sheet and texture atlas support
  9. Canvas, WebGL and DOM renderers
  10. Cross-platform - runs on desktop and mobile browsers

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Open source and free to use

Good performance due to hardware acceleration

Familiar API for Flash developers

Cross-platform support

Active development and community

Cons

Limited documentation

Not as feature rich as Flash

Smaller community compared to other JS game engines

No 3D support


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