Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ct.js VS Panda3D

Compare ct.js VS Panda3D and see what are their differences

ct.js logo ct.js

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

Panda3D logo Panda3D

Panda3D is a video game development engine and rendering software. It is developed and maintained by the Carnegie Mellon University Entertainment Technology Center.
  • ct.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-11
  • Panda3D Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-22

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.

Panda3D features and specs

  • Open Source
    Panda3D is entirely open source, which means you can tweak the engine to fit your specific needs and contribute to its development.
  • Python Integration
    It is designed to be used with Python, making it an excellent choice for developers who prefer Python and benefit from its ease of use and quick prototyping.
  • C++ Support
    For performance-critical applications, Panda3D allows you to write parts of your code in C++, providing a good balance between ease of use and execution speed.
  • Extensive Documentation
    The engine comes with comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and a strong community, which can ease the learning curve for new users.
  • Complete Development Environment
    It includes everything needed to create a game, from rendering and physics to asset management and sound, providing a one-stop solution.
  • Toolchain Compatibility
    Compatible with many other tools and libraries, allowing for great flexibility in development workflows.

Possible disadvantages of Panda3D

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Despite the extensive documentation, beginners in game development might find it challenging to understand and use all of Panda3D's features.
  • Limited Graphics Capabilities
    Compared to more modern game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity, Panda3D's graphics capabilities are somewhat outdated and might not support cutting-edge visuals.
  • Smaller Community
    While Panda3D has an active community, it is smaller than those of more mainstream engines, possibly leading to fewer resources and third-party plugins.
  • Performance Overhead
    Being primarily Python-based can introduce performance overheads compared to engines built entirely in lower-level languages like C++.
  • Manual Resource Management
    Asset and resource management require more manual effort compared to some other engines that offer more automated solutions.

ct.js videos

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

Panda3D videos

Panda3D Game Engine -- The Others Game Engine Series

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ct.js and Panda3D)
Game Development
69 69%
31% 31
Game Engine
63 63%
37% 37
3D Game Engine
66 66%
34% 34
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 Panda3D

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.

Panda3D Reviews

Top 6 Python Framework for Game Development | by Ankur Kumar | unikaksha | Medium
Panda3D is a Python framework for 3D rendering and games that is open-source. It’s a free engine for real-time 3D games, simulations, visualizations, and experiments. Its extensive feature set is flexible enough to adapt to different processes and development requirements. All of the graphics card’s capabilities are apparent through an easy-to-use API. Panda3D combines the...
Source: medium.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ct.js should be more popular than Panda3D. It has been mentiond 3 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

Panda3D mentions (2)

  • Pyxel: A retro game engine for Python
    Panda3D [0] (which is what Ursina uses under the hood) and Pygame can both run on the web due to PygBag [1]. Truth be told you can build a game on any tool, obviously the tool you choose will help shape the game you make - but it's more about keeping at it then the underlying technology. Personally I really like Panda3D and feel like it doesn't get enough attention. It's scene graph [3] is interesting because it... - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Unity’s New Pricing: A Wake-Up Call on the Importance of Open Source in Gaming
    It's not as monolithic as you'd think. There are lots of engines out there but their communities aren't very vocal compared to Unity, Unreal, and especially Godot's community. Take a look at: https://itch.io/game-development/engines/most-projects And https://www.gamedeveloper.com/blogs/the-generous-space-of-alternative-game-engines-a-curation- If you look at both of these you'll see just how many engines there are... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ct.js and Panda3D, 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.