Author Topic: SFML only for games? (Read 3980 times)

CL90 · « **on:** February 10, 2012, 04:03:26 pm »

Hi there!

i'm about to build an aplication. its first job will be, to show variables wich comes from our hexapod. later it should be the control pannel.
and also we plan to show a 3D Model of the Hexapod with the current movement.

I know i could do the Visual aplication with SFML. would be like an Game GUI.
but does it make sense? or should i use something like API for it?

Serapth · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2012, 04:16:35 pm »

Well, you can use SFML for non-gaming apps.

I think your bigger problem will be the fact its a 2D library, not 3D.

CL90 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2012, 05:14:50 pm »

hm ok. 3D is then a problem.

and mixing wont fix hm?
or can i use a GUI, and use SFML in it? or/and an other lib for the 3D part.

Elgan · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2012, 05:30:29 pm »

you can do 3D....but you might as well use a 3D orientated lib anyway?

ogre is just a renderer.

BlueMagic · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2012, 06:18:45 pm »

SFML will surely help you sort some problems like creating the window to render in, and handling things such as events, timing, input. For drawing you can still use OpenGL, and with SFML it's easy to integrate you own OpenGL code with the app.

eXpl0it3r · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2012, 10:37:06 pm »

You can easily use SFML in 3D projects. SFML just won't help you with that but since SFML builds too upon OpenGL it's perfect for such stuff.
You could then use SFML for the 2D GUI interface and handle your own OpenGL stuff.

SFML is certaintly not for games only but since it covers all aspects a 2D game needs (Graphic, audio, input, network, system) it fits perfectly for that matter.