Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ct.js VS LibGDX

Compare ct.js VS LibGDX and see what are their differences

ct.js logo ct.js

ct.js is a 2D game editor (desktop app) based on web technologies.

LibGDX logo LibGDX

Libgdx is a Java game development framework that provides a unified API that works across all...
  • ct.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-11
  • LibGDX Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-07

ct.js features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Ct.js offers an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that is accessible for beginners. It enables users to create their games without extensive coding knowledge, thanks to a visual editor and an organized layout.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Games made with ct.js can be exported to multiple platforms, including HTML5, Windows, MacOS, and Linux. This makes it versatile for developers aiming to reach a broad audience.
  • Modular System
    Ct.js uses a modular system that allows users to add various predefined modules to their projects. This fosters a customizable development environment, supporting a range of functionalities without the need for external plugins.
  • Active Community and Support
    Ct.js has an active community and provides ample support through forums, documentation, and tutorials. This helps new users quickly get up to speed and resolve issues efficiently.
  • Open Source
    Being an open-source tool, developers can inspect, modify, and contribute to the ct.js source code. This transparency fosters innovation and continuous improvement in the tool’s capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of ct.js

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While ct.js is great for beginners and small to medium-sized games, it may lack some advanced features and tools found in more established engines like Unity or Unreal. This can be limiting for more complex projects.
  • Performance Constraints
    As a JavaScript-based engine, ct.js can experience performance issues, particularly with larger and more resource-intensive projects. It may not be as optimized for performance as some other engines.
  • Steeper Learning Curve For Complex Features
    Although the basics are easy to grasp, some more complex features may still have a steeper learning curve and require a deeper understanding of JavaScript and game development principles.
  • Smaller Ecosystem
    The ecosystem around ct.js is smaller compared to major game engines. There are fewer third-party plugins, assets, and community contributions available, which can limit resources for developers.
  • Limited Professional Use
    Ct.js might not be widely recognized or adopted in professional game development environments. For developers aiming for a career in larger studios or high-budget projects, proficiency in more mainstream engines might be preferred.

LibGDX features and specs

  • Cross-platform development
    LibGDX allows you to write your game once and deploy it on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and HTML5. This significantly reduces development time and effort.
  • Performance
    LibGDX is designed with performance in mind. It uses OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) for rendering, which ensures that applications run smoothly even on lower-end devices.
  • Open-source
    As an open-source framework, LibGDX is free to use and allows developers to contribute to its improvement. This also means there is a large community for support and resources.
  • Extensive documentation and tutorials
    LibGDX provides extensive documentation, guides, and tutorials to help developers get started and troubleshoot issues.
  • Modular design
    LibGDX's modular design means you can select only the parts of the framework you need, which keeps your application lightweight and efficient.
  • Rich set of features
    LibGDX offers a wide range of features, including 2D and 3D graphics, physics, input handling, audio, and more, making it suitable for various types of games.

Possible disadvantages of LibGDX

  • Steep learning curve
    LibGDX can be difficult to learn, especially for beginners who are not familiar with Java or game development principles.
  • Limited iOS support
    While LibGDX does support iOS, the process of setting up and deploying to an iOS device is more complex compared to other platforms. You might need additional tools like RoboVM as well.
  • Java-centric
    LibGDX is heavily based on Java, so if you are not familiar with the language, there might be a significant learning curve.
  • Manual memory management
    LibGDX requires developers to manually manage memory in some cases, which can be error-prone and lead to issues like memory leaks if not handled correctly.
  • Sparse high-level abstractions
    Compared to some other game engines, LibGDX provides fewer high-level abstractions, meaning developers have to write more boilerplate code to get things done.
  • Small community
    While the community is active and helpful, it is smaller compared to other more popular game development frameworks, which might limit the availability of third-party plugins and resources.

Analysis of ct.js

Overall verdict

  • Overall, ct.js is a highly regarded game development platform due to its balance of ease-of-use and powerful features. It is continually updated and improved, reflecting the developers' commitment to maintaining a robust tool for game creation. As a result, it is considered a good choice for those interested in game development.

Why this product is good

  • ct.js (ctjs.rocks) is a game development tool designed to be user-friendly and accessible for beginners while still offering extensive features for more advanced users. Its visual editor allows users to create games with little to no programming knowledge, and it supports JavaScript for those who want to dive deeper into coding. The platform offers a range of modules and plugins to extend functionality, making it a versatile tool for creating 2D games. The community is supportive, and the documentation is comprehensive, aiding both new and experienced developers.

Recommended for

    ct.js is recommended for beginners who are looking to make their first games and are interested in learning the basics of game design and development. It is also suitable for hobbyists and indie developers who want to rapidly prototype and create 2D games without investing in more complex and costly software. Additionally, educators and students can benefit from using ct.js as a learning tool in educational settings.

Analysis of LibGDX

Overall verdict

  • LibGDX is generally considered to be a good option for game developers, especially those looking for a versatile and flexible framework with strong cross-platform support. Its open-source nature and active community provide valuable resources and support for both beginners and experienced developers.

Why this product is good

  • LibGDX is a popular open-source game development framework that provides a comprehensive set of features for developing 2D and 3D games. It is appreciated for its cross-platform capabilities, allowing developers to write code once and deploy it on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and web browsers. Additionally, it offers a wide range of tools and libraries, such as Box2D for physics, built-in support for graphics, sound, and input processing, and a vibrant community that contributes to extensive documentation and tutorials.

Recommended for

  • Indie game developers who want to create games without being tied to a specific platform.
  • Developers who prefer working with Java, as LibGDX is Java-based.
  • Those who appreciate a large selection of tools and libraries for game development.
  • Developers who seek an active community and extensive documentation for support.

ct.js videos

Ct.js -- An Awesome 2D Game Engine/Editor (That's Open Source & Cross Platform!)

LibGDX videos

A Closer Look At LibGDX

More videos:

  • Review - LibGDX Game Jam - February 2019 in Review
  • Review - libGDX Jam March 2020 in Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ct.js and LibGDX)
Game Development
51 51%
49% 49
Game Engine
43 43%
57% 57
3D Game Engine
42 42%
58% 58
Gaming
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ct.js and LibGDX

ct.js Reviews

16 Scratch Alternatives
Anyone who wants to learn the programming languages to make some 2D-based games in a much more entertaining environment can check out one of the leading platforms known as Ct.js. This platform lets its users get the enhanced visual editor and the massive library enclosed with the coding documents for ease. It can even permit its clients to have the modern development...
20 Best Scratch Alternatives 2023
A significant difference between Ct.js and Scratch is that with Ct.js, you work with codes. Nevertheless, the code editor is intuitive with editable examples and demo codes.

LibGDX Reviews

Best Unity alternatives for game development
LibGDX uses a Java-based game framework coupled with the OpenGL API. If you're interested in HTML/JavaScript (browser-based games) or apps for Android and iOS, consider dipping into LibGDX. Some notable examples that used LibGDX that you've may already encountered include Shattered Pixel Dungeons and Slay the Spire. It also uses the Apache 2.0 license, a permissive free...
The Top 10 Video Game Engines
The libGDX forums are alive as well, with topics that cover development with libGDX and tutorials for getting started. There’s also a “source guide” with demos and examples you can take advantage of.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, LibGDX should be more popular than ct.js. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ct.js mentions (3)

  • Web Game – Squirrel shoots nuts
    Mainly ct.js an awesome 2D game editor (https://ctjs.rocks/). Source: over 3 years ago
  • My Windows 11 NordTheme Setup
    The taskbar icons are from niivu's Nord dock icons (they come in .png and .ico formats so you can set your taskbar icon's to those .ico files!), Some taskbar icons, like the ct.js and dragonbones icons are my own edits of the original icon files extracted from the executables! Source: over 3 years ago
  • Blog about gamedev and ct.js, a javascript modern 2D game engine.
    Since 2019, I have a lot of fun with ct.js, so I want to share. : ). Source: about 4 years ago

LibGDX mentions (7)

  • Rawdrawandroid – Build Android apps without any Java, in C and Make
    Present tense, LibGDX is still around, even though it isn't Unity or Godot like cool. https://libgdx.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Ask HN: Released games built on FOSS engines?
    Some popular games were builtwith LibGDX[1]: Slay the Spire, Mindustry, Space Haven, and others[2]. [1]: https://libgdx.com/ [2]: https://libgdx.com/showcase/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • What is the best 2D mobile gaming framework ?
    I am looking for a new framework to develop 2d Game on Android devices. I used Libgdx (a java framework) actually I am using flutter flame. Please send me alternative. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: Favorite Game Engine?
    This answer is most likely based on what programming language you use most. The C++ folks will like Unreal and the JS folks have the preference as well. [0] https://libgdx.com/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Suitability for 2D development
    I switched from godot to this: https://libgdx.com They understand 2D rendering pipeline better. Godot is just throwing everything to GPU with zero optimizations. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing ct.js and LibGDX, you can also consider the following products

Godot Engine - Feature-packed 2D and 3D open source game engine.

BYOND - BYOND is the premier community for making and playing online multiplayer games.

Unreal Engine - Unreal Engine 4 is a suite of integrated tools for game developers to design and build games, simulations, and visualizations.

RPG Maker - Make your own PC game with RPG Maker. Our easy to use tools are simple enough for a child, and powerful enough for a developer. Try it free today!

Unity - The multiplatform game creation tools for everyone.

GDevelop - GDevelop is an open-source game making software designed to be used by everyone.