Open Source
JMonkeyEngine is open-source, which means it's free to use and has a wide community of developers who contribute to its development and offer support.
Java-based
It is built using Java, which makes it accessible to a large number of developers familiar with the language and benefits from Java's portability across different platforms.
Cross-platform
JMonkeyEngine supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, enabling developers to create games that run on various devices.
Rich Feature Set
The engine comes with a comprehensive set of features such as advanced 3D graphics, physics integration, terrain generation, and a user-friendly scene graph.
Active Community
An active and responsive community provides forums, tutorials, and additional resources, helping both new and experienced developers.
Integrated Development Environment
It includes its own SDK with an integrated development environment, which simplifies the process of game development by providing tools such as scene composer, model importer, and debugging tools.
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Check the traffic stats of JMonkeyEngine on SimilarWeb. The key metrics to look for are: monthly visits, average visit duration, pages per visit, and traffic by country. Moreoever, check the traffic sources. For example "Direct" traffic is a good sign.
Check the "Domain Rating" of JMonkeyEngine on Ahrefs. The domain rating is a measure of the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It shows the strength of JMonkeyEngine's backlink profile compared to the other websites. In most cases a domain rating of 60+ is considered good and 70+ is considered very good.
Check the "Domain Authority" of JMonkeyEngine on MOZ. A website's domain authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is based on a 100-point logarithmic scale, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking. This is another useful metric to check if a website is good.
The latest comments about JMonkeyEngine on Reddit. This can help you find out how popualr the product is and what people think about it.
> Unfortunately, this is yet another open source game engine with too small a user base. I wonder why some engines are seemingly destined for success and others... aren't. Godot got really big, despite a somewhat similar feature set: https://godotengine.org/ (really nice 2D support, 3D rendering was worse until version 4, GDScript has both a nice iteration speed but also has gotten some criticism, while C# was a... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
There more `bare-metal` engines like https://jmonkeyengine.org/ (well it is not C++, it is Java based)... Source: over 3 years ago
This project develops a cross-platform Subspace client and server written in Java. It was developed from scratch on the idea of extensibility and modularity. The server is based on modules/frameworks highly optimized for scaled, networked, grid-based, infinite world physics. The client is based on the JMonkeyEngine, a minimalistic modern developer friendly, open source, game engine. Source: over 3 years ago
> Godot is one of those pinnacle FOSS projects that just totally impresses me, especially given the state its in now, with 4.0. It is definitely one of the success stories, at least so far. For example, there are projects like jMonkeyEngine (a game engine in Java, on top of LWJGL) that don't get as much attention and their movement forwards is way slower: https://jmonkeyengine.org/ There's also Stride 3D, which is... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
It is, or at least was, efficient. Java has a great game engine called https://jmonkeyengine.org/ that at the time could compete with Unity, not sure the status now. And LWJGL, the lower layer for ooengl, was quite nice to use and it is efficient to go that low level if you plan to do a game that does not fit the stereotypes in such game engines, as you will find yourself fighting the engine more than the actual... Source: over 3 years ago
This seems interesting https://jmonkeyengine.org , how would I get started? Source: over 3 years ago
You may also check game engines for JVM, especially LibGDX (https://libgdx.com/) and jMonkeyEngine (https://jmonkeyengine.org/). Games on JVM are most often small indie titles, developed on weekends by enthusiasts who don't plan to make big money, but hey, we have Minecraft, right? :). Source: about 4 years ago
Java: Jmonkeyengine works with Armed Bear Common Lisp, but it requires you to write a lot of Java as "glue" because of the engine's structure. Still, the engine and ABCL are solid and you can get it if you give it time. Source: about 4 years ago
I remember using https://jmonkeyengine.org Some while ago. Source: about 4 years ago
According to its Github repository, JMonkeyEngine is almost entirely written in Java. Source: about 4 years ago
I'd love to see something like https://jmonkeyengine.org/ for golang.. Source: about 4 years ago
If Java is what you know, give JMonkeyEngine (Tutorial), libGDX (Tutorials), or LWJGL (Tutorials) a try. Source: about 4 years ago
I've heard of people using jMonkeyEngine on older hardware. It's a 3D engine running on JVM, so it uses Java as the main programming language. As far as I know it's a well established project (~20 years since it began). I've never used it myself, so I can't comment much further, but for you it might be worth looking into! Source: over 4 years ago
Back in my day I fiddled alot around with jmonkey engine https://jmonkeyengine.org/. Source: over 4 years ago
I wouldn't worry about performance overheads or anything like that. You have engines like Stride made in C#, you have engines like JMonkeyEngine made in Java. Source: over 4 years ago
All manner of software is written in it. Much of the web is fundamentally built on Java. I don't think it's terribly popular as a game development platform anymore, but as noted with Minecraft, that doesn't mean you can't. Source: over 4 years ago
Depending on what you want to do, those may or may not be relevant concerns. Overall, though, it's a lovely engine and I see a bright future ahead of it. I just wish that other open source engines also got more love, for example, jMonkeyEngine: https://jmonkeyengine.org/ Seeing how underfunded that one is made me throw some money in its direction, too (since there aren't any other 3D Java game engines with high... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
> As Java is generally the fastest GC'd language, what's the current state of Java gamedev? In my eyes, there are no truly viable options out there, mostly due to a lack of approachable GUI game development software or toolkits out there. For example, compare the one option that comes close, jMonkeyEngine (https://jmonkeyengine.org/) to the likes of Unreal (https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/) and Unity... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
For native binaries, we now have https://www.graalvm.org/reference-manual/native-image/, but it probably doesn't yet work nicely with game frameworks? Not sure. There are some engines, frameworks: https://jmonkeyengine.org/, https://litiengine.com/, https://libgdx.com/, https://www.lwjgl.org/. But I have no real experience with any of those. - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
Well, Iโd say youโve never seen https://jmonkeyengine.org/ as itโs basically unity for Java? It does have its own IDE with a viewport, etc. Source: over 4 years ago
I have never used this personally and have not heard about any games that have used it, but there is an engine called jMonkeyEngine. Source: almost 5 years ago
JMonkeyEngine is an open-source game development engine primarily leveraged for 3D game development, operating in the Java ecosystem. Public discourse surrounding JMonkeyEngine highlights both its strengths and challenges. Here, I will outline the predominant themes from recent discussions:
Accessibility and Ease of Use: One of the standout features of JMonkeyEngine is its accessibility for developers familiar with Java. Compared to C++, Java is often perceived as more user-friendly for those not deeply entrenched in programming. JMonkeyEngine capitalizes on this, presenting itself as a viable alternative for developers not interested in the complexity of more traditionally used languages in game development, such as C++ (which is heavily used in engines like Unreal).
Open-Source Appeal: As an open-source project, JMonkeyEngine holds appeal for developers who value transparency and community-driven development. This model allows for significant customization and flexibility, attractive to hobbyists and indie developers who enjoy modifying and creating project-specific solutions.
Mature Ecosystem: With nearly two decades in development, JMonkeyEngine is tested and robust. Its extensive history provides a degree of stability and maturity that can be valuable for developers seeking a reliable platform.
Niche Positioning: Despite its strengths, JMonkeyEngine remains relatively niche. Discussions indicate that it is overshadowed by more prominent engines like Unity and Unreal Engine, and to a lesser extent, Godot. This can impact a developer's decision-making process as community size and availability of resources (such as tutorials, plugins, and libraries) are vital considerations.
Java Dependency: While an advantage for Java enthusiasts, the dependency on Java is also seen as a limitation. Java's popularity in game development has waned, with many high-profile projects opting for other languages. Some developers argue that this limits JMonkeyEngine's potential reach and adoption.
Limited High-Level Tools: Feedback suggests that JMonkeyEngine lacks some of the high-level tools and GUI development capabilities that make engines like Unity so compelling. This absence can deter developers who prefer a more visual or streamlined development process. The lack of these tools might also contribute to lower user engagement when compared to competitors like Godot, which has made significant strides with its version 4.0.
Recognition and Popularity: Public opinion also reflects a sentiment of underappreciation. The engine doesn't receive as much attention or funding as its counterparts, despite its capability and longevity. This results in a smaller user base, which may deter new users looking for a vibrant and large community.
In summary, JMonkeyEngine is a competent and stable option for developers comfortable with Java or those seeking an open-source 3D game development engine. However, its niche status and the perception of limited high-level tooling present challenges for broader adoption. Developers often weigh the robust ecosystem of more popular engines against JMonkeyEngine's specific advantages and limitations, a balance that continues to spark discussion within the game development community.
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