What is Gemcutter?

Gemcutter is a free C++ game development framework for Windows. It features a powerful Entity-Component-System and fine-grain control of both 2D and 3D rendering.

Why use Gemcutter?

The framework facilitates expressive and succinct code that is both easy to read, and to use. With a thin API and C++23 features, Gemcutter provides powerful features without feeling clunky.

Highlight features include:

• A rich shader workflow
• Efficient entity queries
• Extendable asset management
• Run-time reflection
• A modular and extendable particle system
• Audio powered by SoLoud
• Mesh and Texture loading
• GUI support
• FreeType text rendering
• Safe function delegates and event management
• Robust fixed-timestep updates
• A complete math library
• Keyboard/Mouse/Xbox-Controller support
• Local networking

Quick Start

If you're looking to start a new project using Gemcutter, then you can use this repository template to get started quickly.

If you just want to download the framework, then simply clone the repo and configure the project with CMake from the root directory:

> mkdir build
> cd build
> cmake ..                       # Default configuration, or
> cmake .. -DENABLE_SAMPLES=OFF  # Default configuration without downloading samples

And that's it! Any required git submodules are pulled automatically. You'll find your generated projects under the build/ folder. Code samples can be found under samples/ if they were enabled.

The following build configurations will be available:

Upcoming Features

Gemcutter is always being updated and improved. See the Trello board to follow development.

Future highlight features include:

• A fully featured world/UI editor
• Bullet physics integration
• Configurable memory management
• C++ reflection driven features:
  • Serialization and deserialization
  • Seamless editor integration of user data-types
  • Animation of arbitrary values
  • Replication over networks

Dependencies

All Dependencies used under their respective licenses. Copyright is held by their respective owners.

• GLEW 2.0.0
• FreeType 2
• Catch 2.13.8
• SoLoud
• Scaffold
• SOIL ext
• dirent 1.23.2
• XInput 1.4
• Imgui 1.85
• Loupe

Notes

• Gemcutter is built and tested on Windows with the latest version of Visual Studio.
• Gemcutter requires at least OpenGL 3.3.
• Gemcutter is provided under the MIT License.