A collection of WebGL and WebGPU frameworks and libraries

WebGL-WebGPU-frameworks-libraries.md

A non-exhaustive list of WebGL and WebGPU frameworks and libraries. It is mostly for learning purposes as some of the libraries listed are wip/outdated/not maintained anymore.

Engines and libraries

• three.js: JavaScript 3D library
• stack.gl: an open software ecosystem for WebGL, built on top of browserify and npm.
• PixiJS: Super fast HTML 5 2D rendering engine that uses webGL with canvas fallback
• Pex: Pex is a javascript 3d library / engine allowing for seamless development between Plask and WebGL in the browser.
• Babylon.js: a complete JavaScript framework for building 3D games with HTML 5 and WebGL
• Filament: Filament is a real-time physically based rendering engine for Android, iOS, Windows, Linux, macOS and WASM/WebGL
• ClayGL: A WebGL graphic library helping you to build scalable Web3D applications
• AwayJS: AwayJS is a graphics library for javascript written in typescript
• SceneJS: An extensible WebGL-based engine for high-detail 3D visualisation
• Blend4Web: a tool for interactive 3D visualization on the Internet
• PlayCanvas: JavaScript game engine built on WebGL and WebVR
• Turbulenz: Turbulenz is a modular 3D and 2D game framework for making HTML5 powered games for browsers, desktops and mobile devices.
• Hilo3d: a WebGL Rendering Engine.
• litescene: A WebGL 3D Engine library with component-based node hierarchy. Used by WebGLStudio.
• Two.js: A renderer agnostic two-dimensional drawing api for the web.
• webgl-operate: A TypeScript based WebGL rendering framework.

Toolkits and micro frameworks

• regl: Fast functional WebGL
• lightgl.js: A lightweight WebGL library
• TWGL: A Tiny WebGL helper Library
• p5.js: a new interpretation of Processing, not an emulation or port.
• Four: a slightly higher level graphics API based on WebGL 1.0
• TDL: TDL is a low-level library for WebGL apps (see TWGL)
• KickJS: A WebGL game engine for modern web-browsers
• nanogl: webgl micro framework
• Alfrid: A WebGL tool set
• Medium: Progressive WebGL toolkit for art
• PicoGL.js: A minimal WebGL 2-only rendering library
• O-GL: Minimal WebGL framework
• mini-webgl: Mini toy WebGL library
• phenomenon-px: The fastest way to create pixel shaders.
• zen-3d: JavaScript 3D library.
• GLOW: GLOW is a WebGL wrapper, which focuses on easy creation and use of shaders.
• Helix: A Javascript 3D engine.
• GrimoireJS: A WebGL framework for Web development.
• litegl.js: Lightweight Javascript WebGL library for handling Context, Meshes, Textures and Shaders.
• CraZyPG: lowlevel webgl2.0 library
• GLBoost: A Useful WebGL Library for Small Turning
• RedCube.js: WebGL2 rendering library.
• RedGL2: RedGL - JavaScript 3D library
• gi-voxels: WebGL Voxel Cone Tracing
• artgl: TypeScript 3D framework. Building blocks & infrastructure for Web 3D application.

Tools build on top of...

• WhitestormJS: Super-fast 3D framework for Web Applications & Games. Based on Three.js
• Phaser: Phaser is a fast, free, and fun open source HTML5 game framework. It uses a custom build of Pixi.js.
• OSG.js: Javascript Implementation of OpenSceneGraph
• Ammo.js: Direct port of the Bullet physics engine to JavaScript using Emscripten
• gl-engine: an experimental ES6 WebGL engine built on stack.gl
• GLAM: glam (GL A nd M arkup) is a declarative language for creating 3D web content.
• potree: WebGL point cloud viewer for large datasets
• plotly.js: Built on top of d3.js and stack.gl, plotly.js is a high-level, declarative charting library.
• threeify: threeify is a Typescript 3D library loosely based on three.js.

Maps and visualizations

• Deck.gl: WebGL based visualization layers
• LumaGL: A JavaScript WebGL Framework for Data Visualization
• Cesium: Open-source library for world-class 3D globes and maps.
• xeogl: A data-driven 3D visualization engine on WebGL
• PhiloGL: A WebGL Framework for Data Visualization, Creative Coding and Game Development

VR

• A-Frame: A web framework for building virtual reality experiences.
• PlayCanvas: JavaScript game engine built on WebGL and WebVR

WebGPU

• RedGPU: RedGPU - Javascript webGPU Engine
• sokol: 3D-API wrapper
• wgpu: Native WebGPU implementation based on gfx-hal
• dawn: Dawn, a WebGPU implementation
• dgel: A WebGPU engine.

Missing PlayCanvas which has MIT open source engine and collaborative tools in a cloud. Not many engines have tools. And does VR. And is used commercially for visualizations, product customizers, games, ads, and many other things.

Missing Blend4Web as well.

Turbulenz.

But list has loads of libs that actually not in development anymore, which probably worth reconsidering.

I have updated the gist to reflect the non-exhaustive and not maintained aspects of it.

Saw this today https://github.com/shawn0326/zen-3d, another framework for the list 👍

@terkelg The never ending list 🤔 Keep them coming, there is much to learn!

I think Verge3D is a good candidate to be included in the list as well ))
* [Verge3D](https://www.soft8soft.com/verge3d/): a WebGL-based engine for creating 3D configurators, online stores, 3D presentations, e-learning applications and games.

p5.js?

Also X3DOM is missing

Note that lightGL and sceneJS are not longer maintained.

Sources:

• for lightGL;
• for sceneJS.

Also it could be useful to add the library minified size. If interested, I started a work here:

• lightGL: 30ko;
• Babylon: 2.2mo;
• three.js: 543ko
• scene.js: 708ko;
• twgl: 140ko
• regl: 507ko
• clayGL: 494ko
• fourJS: 183ko
• mini-webGL: 93ko
• GLOW: 77ko
• helixJS: 629ko
• oGL: 6ko (core) / 17ko (total);
• Zen3D: 181ko

GLOW is dead. Its homepage (the main link on the page this page links to) is for sale.

Add this one =) https://www.martin-laxenaire.fr/libs/curtainsjs/ nice for fullscreen animations with glsl

Potree - point cloud visualization

RaptorEngine - An browser based WebGL Engine (With node based material editor) is missing.

Node based Material Editor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7oOLKeDGCs , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjqOE0suK14

Github: https://github.com/kajdijkstra/RaptorEngine

There is plotly js (charting library) which supports WebGL for scatter plots (scattergl): https://plot.ly/javascript/webgl-vs-svg/

Here is also https://two.js.org/

Hello.
I use CreateJS . I had chosen it for high levels function that look like Java AWT (I converted some old project from Java to JS), and this project was supported by Adobe and Microsoft. But there are not updates since 2 or 3 years. Why ??
What is the best library nowadays ? I see Konva but now I am not sure, I want to find a famous project supported buy a large communauty.
Please help me !