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SFML VS pyglet

Compare SFML VS pyglet and see what are their differences

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.

pyglet logo pyglet

Cross-platform windowing and multimedia library for Python.
  • SFML Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-09-29
  • pyglet Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-08

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 doesnโ€™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.

pyglet features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Pyglet is designed to work on Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing developers to create applications that are easily portable across different operating systems.
  • No External Dependencies
    Pyglet does not require any external dependencies or additional installations, simplifying the setup process and reducing potential compatibility issues.
  • Rich Media Support
    Pyglet natively supports a wide range of image, audio, and video formats, facilitating the development of multimedia applications.
  • OpenGL Integration
    Offers comprehensive support for OpenGL, enabling developers to create high-performance graphics and make use of advanced rendering techniques.
  • Event-Driven Architecture
    Pyglet provides a flexible event-driven architecture, making it easier to manage user inputs and other events in a clean and organized manner.

Possible disadvantages of pyglet

  • Limited Community and Resources
    Compared to some other libraries, Pyglet has a smaller community and fewer tutorials or online resources, which can make learning and problem-solving more challenging.
  • Performance
    While Pyglet is adequate for many applications, it might not be the best choice for very high-performance requirements or very large-scale games without significant optimization.
  • Less Abstraction for Beginners
    Unlike some other libraries or frameworks, Pyglet requires a good understanding of graphics programming concepts as it doesn't abstract as much detail away, which might be intimidating for beginners.
  • Sparse Development Updates
    Pyglet's updates and new releases are somewhat infrequent, which might lead to concerns about long-term maintenance and feature additions.

SFML videos

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)

pyglet videos

Pyglet Python and OpenGL - part 01 - Hello Triangle

More videos:

  • Review - PyCon.DE 2018: 3D Graphics in Python with Ratcave and Pyglet - Nicholas A. Del Grosso

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SFML and pyglet)
Game Engine
60 60%
40% 40
Game Development
59 59%
41% 41
3D Game Engine
67 67%
33% 33
Tool
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 SFML and pyglet

SFML Reviews

We have no reviews of SFML yet.
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pyglet Reviews

Top 6 Python Framework for Game Development | by Ankur Kumar | unikaksha | Medium
Pyglet is a windowing and multimedia library used to create games and other visually-rich applications using Python. Windowing, game controls, user interface event management, OpenGL graphics, joysticks, picture, and video loading, and sound and background music playing are all supported by this program. Pyglet runs on Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux.
Source: medium.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, pyglet should be more popular than SFML. 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.

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: almost 4 years ago

pyglet mentions (7)

  • I need a good python game engine.
    Years ago I had some success with pyglet. It seems to still be actively developed! I haven't seen anything about swf files though. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Minecraft-like engine...having a hard time getting geometry on screen fast enough
    Bottom of the page: https://pyglet.org/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Pglet โ€“ Web UI framework for back end developers
    Already exists: https://ollycope.com/software/piglet-templates/latest/ also this one is very popular too: http://pyglet.org/ I would personally avoid the current name as it sounds phonetically the same as the above. - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago
  • What's the best game-engine for making RPG games with Python?
    First, you can use Python plus a library like Pyglet or Cocos2D or Arcade or Pygame. The only one of these that I have any experience with is Pygame, but it looks like none of these are "engines" in the modern sense. Working with them means doing everything from your favorite Python IDE. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • In a nutshell: Aren't game engines just pre-programmed instructions written for the user?
    In the same way, if your goal is to make a game, why go to the trouble of writing all the code to do basic things like loading images and drawing sprites and playing sounds when you could just type "import pyglet"? Source: about 4 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing SFML and pyglet, you can also consider the following products

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

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

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

Pygame - Pygame is a set of Python modules designed for writing games.

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

Vulkan - Vulkan is a new generation graphics and compute API that provides high-efficiency, cross-platform access to modern GPUs used in a wide variety of devices from PCs and consoles to mobile phones and embedded platforms.