Zig's ability to directly interface with C libraries and compile to WebAssembly (WASM) opens doors for diverse applications. This post showcases these capabilities through TerrainZigger, a 3D terrain generator project.
Key Points:
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Seamless C Interoperability: Zig's
@cImportallows effortless importing and utilization of C libraries, enabling developers to tap into a rich ecosystem of existing C code. TerrainZigger demonstrates this by integrating Raylib for rendering.
const ray = @cImport({ @cInclude("raylib.h"); }); -
Effortless WASM Compilation: Zig's
build-exetoolchain facilitates seamless compilation to WASM, making Zig code accessible from JavaScript and readily embeddable in web pages. TerrainZigger exemplifies this by providing a playable demo on itch.io.
zig build-exe terrain_zigger.zig -target wasm32-freestanding -O ReleaseSmall -fno-entry --export=generate_terrain_wasm --export=get_terrain_height_wasm && python -m http.server & open http://localhost:8000/ kill $(lsof -t -i:8000) -
Performance and Control: Zig's emphasis on low-level control and performance is ideal for computationally demanding tasks such as terrain generation.
zig build-exe walk.zig -I. -lc $(pkg-config --libs --cflags raylib) -O Debug leaks -atExit -- ./walk
TerrainZigger
- GitHub Repo: https://github.com/JosefAlbers/TerrainZigger
- Playable Demo: https://albersj66.itch.io/terrainzigger
Conclusion
Zig's seamless interaction with C libraries and WASM compilation capability enable developers to craft high-performance applications across different platforms, including natively and within web browsers. Whether it's games, simulations, or interactive projects, Zig offers the tools to bring ideas to life.
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