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SFML VS p5.js

Compare SFML VS p5.js and see what are their differences

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SFML logo SFML

SFML provides a simple interface to the various components of your PC, to ease the development of games and multimedia applications. It is composed of five modules: system, window, graphics, audio and network.

p5.js logo p5.js

JS library for creating graphic and interactive experiences
  • SFML Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • p5.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-22

SFML features and specs

  • User-Friendly API
    SFML provides a simple and intuitive API which makes it easier for developers to learn and use, especially for beginners who are new to graphics programming.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    SFML supports multiple operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS, allowing developers to create cross-platform applications with minimal code changes.
  • Module-Based
    It offers different modules for handling various system aspects like graphics, window, audio, and networking. This modularity helps in organizing code better and using only what is needed.
  • Hardware Acceleration
    SFML provides hardware-accelerated graphics, making it efficient and fast for rendering, which is critical for real-time applications like games.
  • Community and Documentation
    SFML has an active community and offers comprehensive documentation, tutorials, and a supportive forum which are invaluable for development and troubleshooting.

Possible disadvantages of SFML

  • Limited 3D Support
    SFML is primarily designed for 2D graphics, and it doesn’t have native support for 3D graphics, which can be limiting for developers looking to create 3D games.
  • Less Popularity
    Compared to other game development libraries and frameworks like Unity or Unreal Engine, SFML is less popular, which means fewer third-party resources and plugins.
  • Manual Memory Management
    SFML does not handle memory management for you, requiring developers to be cautious with resource management to avoid memory leaks.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While SFML covers basic game development needs, it may lack advanced features and tools provided by more extensive engines, leading developers to implement more functionalities manually.
  • Smaller Ecosystem
    The ecosystem around SFML is smaller compared to more mature game engines, which leads to fewer tutorials, plugins, and reusable assets available for developers.

p5.js features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    p5.js simplifies the process of learning and creating interactive graphics with its intuitive syntax, making it accessible for beginners.
  • Web-Based
    As a JavaScript library, p5.js runs directly in the web browser, enabling easy sharing and embedding of interactive sketches online without the need for additional plugins.
  • Creative Coding Community
    p5.js is supported by a vibrant community that shares a plethora of examples, tutorials, and resources, facilitating learning and troubleshooting.
  • Extensibility
    Its modular architecture allows for easy integration with other libraries like p5.sound, p5.dom, and even external JavaScript libraries, enhancing its functionality.
  • Accessibility
    p5.js emphasizes inclusivity, offering features that make it easier to create accessible web content, such as screen reader support.

Possible disadvantages of p5.js

  • Performance
    p5.js may not be as performant as other lower-level graphics libraries or frameworks, which can be a limitation for highly intensive graphical applications.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While beginner-friendly, mastering complex features and fine-tuning performance in p5.js can require significant effort and understanding of JavaScript.
  • Not Ideal for Large Projects
    Due to its simplicity and focus on learning and prototyping, p5.js might not be suitable for large-scale, production-grade applications.
  • Limited 3D Support
    Although p5.js offers 3D rendering capabilities, these are less developed and performant compared to dedicated 3D libraries like Three.js.
  • Dependency on JavaScript
    Since p5.js is built on JavaScript, it inherits the language's limitations and quirks, which might be a hindrance for developers accustomed to other programming languages.

SFML videos

+ Add

Coding a Simple SFML Game Framework in C++/ SFML

More videos:

  • Review - A Closer Look at SFML
  • Review - ALLEGRO vs. SDL vs. SFML (Game Programming Q&A)

p5.js videos

+ Add

Processing or p5.js? My opinions

More videos:

  • Review - Q&A #1: Side-Scroller in p5.js
  • Tutorial - 17.11: Sound Visualization: Frequency Analysis with FFT - p5.js Sound Tutorial

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SFML and p5.js)

SFML

p5.js

Game Engine
100 100%
Game Engine
0% 0
Javascript UI Libraries
0 0%
Javascript UI Libraries
100% 100
Game Development
100 100%
Game Development
0% 0
Charting Libraries
0 0%
Charting Libraries
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare SFML and p5.js

SFML Reviews

We have no reviews of SFML yet.
Be the first one to post

p5.js Reviews

20+ JavaScript libraries to draw your own diagrams (2022 edition)
A JS client-side library for creating graphics and interactive experiences, based on the core principles of Processing to make coding accessible to artists, designers and educators. Beyond drawing, this project provides offers web audio functionality, collision detection and even generation of graphical user interfaces from p5.js sketches.
Source: modeling-languages.com
8 Best Free and Open-Source Drawing Libraries in JavaScript
The p5.js library is a great option for people who are looking for a library that doesn't have a steep learning curve, but which can create very complicated systems if necessary. The get started with P5.js page on the official website has a functional example that draws circles wherever you move your mouse in only a few lines of code.
Source: code.tutsplus.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, p5.js seems to be a lot more popular than SFML. While we know about 146 links to p5.js, we've tracked only 1 mention of SFML. 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.

SFML mentions (1)

  • Open source recreation of the PS Vita game -- Calling all creators
    I would like to recreate the Plastic Memories PS Vita game as a free, open source, cross-platform (any platform SFML runs on*) game for everyone to enjoy. I'm not sure how much time I'll be able to put into it (I don't have much time between school and various other projects of mine) but I can handle the code, coordination, and source code hosting. Source: over 3 years ago

p5.js mentions (146)

  • Ask HN: Who Are Your Favorite Photography and Generative Coding Artists?
    p5.js is a JavaScript library that I've enjoyed messing with. It's related to Processing. https://p5js.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Art Blocks and the Future of Open Source with Blockchain
    Art Blocks, founded by Erick Calderon in 2020, is a platform that enables artists to create generative art using blockchain technology. It operates on the Ethereum blockchain, leveraging smart contracts to mint unique art pieces as NFTs. The process begins with artists submitting scripts that define the artwork's parameters. Once approved, these scripts generate unique pieces upon purchase, offering collectors a... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Rant: state of generative AI in code generation.
    In my experience with AI code generation, in visual projects like UI development or JavaScript based animation (using three.js or p5.js) etc. AI tools work pretty well. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Procedural Generation and Noise
    For this most recent assignment we were tasked with contributing a larger feature to an open source project. During my time with the previous assignment I worked on a game engine called Litecanvas, inspired engine by libraries like raylib and p5.js/Processing. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Antirez/load81: SDL based Lua programming environment for kids similar to Codea
    Let’s not forget P5js which has a long and esteemed history of helping to teach kids and more to program. It’s browser based so it’s compatible with every OS and requires no install. FOSS with an active community of users and contributors. I personally taught some middle schoolers with zero programming experience how to make interactive monsters in 1 hour. It was awesome! https://p5js.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing SFML and p5.js, you can also consider the following products

raylib - Cross-platform, open-source game development library in C.

Processing - C++ and Java programming at the speed of thought.

Allegro - Allegro 4 and Allegro 5 are cross-platform, libraries mainly aimed at video game and multimedia...

Pixi.js - Fast lightweight 2D library that works across all devices

SDL - Simple DirectMedia Layer is a cross-platform multimedia library designed to provide low level...

Three.js - A JavaScript 3D library which makes WebGL simpler.

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