Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ct.js VS Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK)

Compare ct.js VS Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK) and see what are their differences

ct.js logo ct.js

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

Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK) logo Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK)

Corona is a 2D engine lets you build games & apps for all major platforms including iOS, Android, Kindle, Apple TV, Android TV, macOS, and Windows. Get the free toolset!
  • ct.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-11
  • Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK) Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-04-08

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 toolโ€™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.

Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK) features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Development
    Solar 2D allows developers to create applications for multiple platforms such as iOS, Android, Windows Desktop, and macOS using a single codebase, reducing development time and cost.
  • Ease of Use
    The framework uses the Lua scripting language, which is known for its simplicity and ease of learning, making it accessible for beginners and efficient for experienced developers.
  • High-Performance Graphics Engine
    Solar 2D provides a powerful 2D graphics engine that is capable of rendering high-quality graphics with excellent performance on supported platforms.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    The documentation and available learning resources are comprehensive, helping developers quickly get up to speed and efficiently utilize the features of the SDK.
  • Open Source
    Being open source allows developers to access and modify the source code, fostering a community-driven approach to improvements and custom features.

Possible disadvantages of Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK)

  • Limited 3D Support
    Solar 2D is primarily designed for 2D game and application development, so it lacks the robust 3D capabilities found in other engines like Unity and Unreal Engine.
  • Smaller Community
    Compared to larger platforms, Solar 2D has a smaller developer community, which may result in fewer third-party plugins, extensions, and resources.
  • Dependent on Plugins for Advanced Features
    Some advanced features may require third-party plugins, which can add complexity to the project and dependency management.
  • Less Frequent Updates
    While open source allows community contributions, the official updates and feature enhancements may be less frequent than those of larger commercial engines.
  • Limited Marketing and Industry Presence
    Solar 2D, formerly Corona SDK, lacks the marketing presence and widespread industry adoption compared to bigger players, which can impact its long-term viability for some developers.

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.

ct.js videos

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

Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK) videos

No Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK) videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ct.js and Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK))
Game Development
77 77%
23% 23
Game Engine
74 74%
26% 26
3D Game Engine
83 83%
17% 17
Gaming
64 64%
36% 36

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 Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK)

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.

Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK) Reviews

We have no reviews of Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK) yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ct.js should be more popular than Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK). 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 โ€“ 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: almost 4 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: over 4 years ago

Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK) mentions (2)

  • Starting with Lua
    I have not made anything in defold. While we're at it, I've also seen https://coronalabs.com/ (the open source version of Solar2d, awful timing on the new brand) but, again, I've no experience with it. By all accounts they're perfectly serviceable frameworks! It's just I only listed things I have direct experience with. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Delta Air Lines doesnโ€™t want to call delta variant the โ€˜delta variantโ€™
    A call out to Solar2D, previously Corona2D https://coronalabs.com/. - Source: Hacker News / about 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ct.js and Solar 2D (formerly Corona SDK), 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.

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

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!

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

AppGameKit - AppGameKit is a game development platform for mobile devices.