GNU 3DKit - advanced, object oriented realtime rendering

What is the GNU 3DKit

The GNU 3DKit is part of the GNUstep environment, which provides an Object-Oriented application development framework and tool set for use on a wide variety of computer platforms. GNUstep is based on the original OpenStep specification provided by NeXT, Inc. (now Apple).

It provides several frameworks to render 3D graphics and sound, released under the GNU LGPL. Its main purpose is to render any kind of 3D graphics in realtime, using an optimised scenegraph structure. It uses OpenGL and OpenAL as rendering backend.

The GNU 3DKit consists of several libraries. The GeometryKit offers highly optimised mathematical functionality, implemented as C functions and/or Objective-C classes. The RenderKit is the heart of the kit, it provides the open scenegraph architecture and all needed classes and functionality to render 3D graphics and sound.

In addition to those 2 core libraries, there are several enhancements, which might be useful. The AppKitExtensions library provides a link to the AppKit (eg a NSOpenGLView class), while the SDLKit and the GlutKit implement backend solutions based on SDL, resp. on the GL utility toolkit.

Where can you find it

The main site of the GNU 3DKit is located here, where you can find the latest release as well as often updated developer snapshots - and you might as well browse through the working CVS.

You can also download the latest, stable version from the GNUstep site.

What is needed to use it

To compile and use the GNU 3DKit, you will at least need

  1. an Objective-C compiler (gcc)
  2. the GNUstep Base library (or either libFoundation or Cocoa)
  3. and an OpenGL 1.1 compliant graphics library such as Mesa 3.x
  4. OpenAL, required for 3D sound rendering
In order to use glut, you should use the glut based camera, which is distributed in an additional library. If you'd like to use SDL instead, you might want to use the separate SDL library. You will need to install SDL-1.1.4 in order to successfully compile this library!

To make use of the AppKit, you need to install the RKAppKitExtensions library, which contains several useful classes and categories.

Important: if you want to use the GNU 3DKit on Windows, you will need mingw32, the GNUstep make package as well as libobjc.

Developers

The GNU 3DKit is being written and maintained by Philippe C.D. Robert with the help of various contributors:
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