Behind the Scenes: Raylib vs Unity

Key Differences Between Raylib and Unity

• Initial release: Raylib was released in 2013, Unity in 2005.
• Primary audience: Raylib targets prototyping, tooling, graphical applications, embedded systems, and education. Unity focuses on professional-level game development.
• Programming languages: Raylib is written in C. Unity supports BOO script, Javascript, and C#.
• Pricing structure: Raylib is free, while Unity offers both free and paid versions with a new pricing model based on install fees starting in 2024.
• 3D support: Both platforms provide full 3D support, but Unity further encourages AR/VR game development.
• Community support: Unity has an active community, while Raylib is used primarily for teaching programming.
• External Dependencies: Raylib carries none, Unity requires some.

Choose Raylib for exploring graphics programming, prototyping, tooling, or embarking on educational projects. Opt for Unity when building high-end, professional grade games, especially if AR/VR game development is your area of interest.

What Is raylib and Who’s It For?

raylib, released on November 18, 2013, by Ramon Santamaria and contributors, is a power-packed programming library. Offering a cross-platform capacity, raylib shines in C99 language proficiency. The light yet comprehensive system targets several sectors, including prototyping, tooling, graphical applications, embedded systems, and more incentivizingly, education. Educators, students, and developers worldwide grasp at raylib’s unbeatable capabilities, rendering it an irresistible catch for any tech-avid.

Building on Borland BGI graphics library and the XNA framework inspirations, raylib brings a grand multitude of textures, 3D and shaders support, material systems and more to the table. Special kudos are due for its groundbreaking achievements recognized by Google and Epic Games.

Pros of raylib

• Hardware-accelerated OpenGL performance, allowing smooth software functioning
• Audio loading and playing with streaming support for a wide array of formats
• Strong OpenGL abstraction layer: rlgl

Cons of raylib

• Requires fluency in C99
• Though comprehensively functional, it might be too complex for beginners

What Is Unity and Who’s It For?

Established in 2005, Unity is a versatile game development engine supporting both 3D and 2D games. Developers working across platforms, from augmented reality applications to 3D simulations, cherish Unity’s assortment of tools, rendering technology, and rich features facilitating high-quality game creation.

However, recent confrontations shadow Unity’s rapport over their new pricing method, launching on January 1, 2024. The pay-per-install model has elicited backlash, predominantly from solo and indie developers, raising questions about the platform’s sustainability and controversial retroactive fees. It’s worth noting, charges only apply post-January 1st, 2024, once revenue surpasses $200,000 and installations exceed 200,000.

Pros of Unity

• Renders cross-platform game launch, from Android to iOS
• An active developer community providing solution-driven feedback and support
• Large selection of coding languages at the developer’s disposal

Cons of Unity

• New pricing model may discourage indie and mobile developers
• Potential susceptibility to repeated downloads by a single user, impacting install fees
• Trust issues due to unannounced changes and fees

Code Examples for Raylib & Unity

Raylib: Spinning 3D Cube

This code snippet creates a rotating 3D cube with Raylib. You would require Raylib library installed in your development environment.

#include "raylib.h"
const int screenWidth = 800;
const int screenHeight = 450;
int main() {
    InitWindow(screenWidth, screenHeight, "Spinning 3D Cube");
    Camera camera = { 0 };
    camera.position = (Vector3) { 3.0f, 3.0f, 3.0f };
    camera.target = (Vector3) { 0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f };
    camera.up = (Vector3) { 0.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f };
    camera.fovy = 70.0f;
    camera.type = CAMERA_PERSPECTIVE;
    SetTargetFPS(60);
    while (!WindowShouldClose()) {
        BeginDrawing();
        ClearBackground(RAYWHITE);
        BeginMode3D(camera);
        DrawCube((Vector3) { 0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f }, 1.0f, 1.0f, 1.0f, RED);
        DrawGrid(10, 1.0f);
        EndMode3D();
        DrawFPS(10, 10);
        EndDrawing();
    }
    CloseWindow();
    return 0;
}

Unity: Simple Crosshair Implementation

This code snippet incorporates a basic ‘crosshair’ feature for a first-person perspective in Unity. Unity Engine and a Canvas UI object for holding the crosshair are prerequisites.

using UnityEngine;
using UnityEngine.UI;

public class Crosshair : MonoBehaviour {
    public Image CrosshairImage;
    void Start() {
        Cursor.visible = false;
    }
    void Update() {
        PositionCrosshair();
    }
    void PositionCrosshair() {
        Vector3 targetPoint = new Vector3(Screen.width/2, Screen.height/2, 0);
        Vector3 worldPoint = Camera.main.ScreenToWorldPoint(targetPoint);
        transform.position = worldPoint;
    }
}

Raylib or Unity: Your Ultimate Pick?

Boiling down to raylib and Unity, the decision leans to your needs, proficiency, and platform. Here’s the ins and outs for different audience segments.

Novice Developers

Raylib illuminates the stepping stone. Its intuitive C-based language, simplified implementation and emphasis on education empower novices. Unity, with its advanced ecosystem, could be daunting for beginners.

Multi-platform Gamemakers

Unity’s robust compatibility with diverse operating systems and cross-platform gaming outshines Raylib, enabling you to build various applications, ranging from mobile games to AR/VR experiences.

Indie, Solo Developers

Raylib’s hardware-accelerated OpenGL, no-cost model, and scalability align well with indie developers on budget. Unity’s new per-install fees and phased out Unity Plus subcription might snuff out indie developers.

Advanced 3D Applications

For those creating sophisticated 3D models, Unity’s rich asset store and advanced rendering technology equips you for quality 3D production. Despite Raylib’s full 3D support, it falls short for high-intensity 3D game development.

Choose Raylib for ease, cost-effectiveness and flexibility, particularly for beginners and indie developers. Opt for Unity if cross-platform gaming, robust 3D capabilities, and a rich feature set serve your needs, despite its new fee model. Balance fit with future sustainability.