Which network library do you recommend? (Windows)

[jimburnettva]

I searched for "networking" and "network libraries" and came up empty.

Linux is a no-brainer as I would just use UNIX sockets and be done with it. Not to mention all the native libraries out there.

For windows, I've been looking into few various methods.

I got namespace System::Net::Sockets working but that requires that I use C++/CLI which makes me feel dirty and it also makes it hard to port to Linux and back.

irrNet: no longer availible.
Practical C++ sockets: "Not for production use", stability issues
HawkNL : Change log hasn't change from 2004..?

irrNetLite looks interesting. Anyone got experience in this?


I suppose I could use Winsock....but then it's all jacked up for Linux...

Just looking for some advice.

Flame away and thanks in advance!

[slavik262]

Linux is a no-brainer as I would just use UNIX sockets and be done with it. Not to mention all the native libraries out there.

For windows, I've been looking into few various methods.

Then just use winsock 2. It's native, and it's almost identical to Berkley (UNIX) sockets. Just build some wrapper classes and you'll be good to go. I'm not sure where you got the idea that it's so different from Linux.

[Bate]

Yep, I am using IrrNetLite for a project at the moment. It works like a charm and is easy to use. Check out the last page if you want it multithreaded (which I highly recommend).

[jimburnettva]

Slave,
Winsock2 looks interesting. Is ws2_32.lib still used for linking?



Bate,
Does the IrrNL let you have access to the lower level methods? Currently I have 3D model information stored in a database and I populate my Scene with the information coming from that database.

I guess what I'm asking is, can I define my own packets and also use TCP/UDP combination (TCP for authentication, UDP for the hi-res data...) with IrrNL...

[slavik262]

Note sure. It's been a while since I've done networking work, but Winsock has always met my needs.

Here's the documentation:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library ... S.85).aspx

A good guide to getting started:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library ... S.85).aspx

The BB treats the links weird. Make sure you include the "(VS.85).aspx" when you put in the URL.

[Bate]

I guess what I'm asking is, can I define my own packets and also use TCP/UDP combination (TCP for authentication, UDP for the hi-res data...) with IrrNL...

Yep, you can easily extend it and add your own packets. Also, there is already a lot of irrlicht-related stuff built-in. IrrNet is based on enet which means UDP only.

[sudi]

i would suggest then irrNetLite or enet directly. bc then u can still create tcp connection pretty easily with the same system. and you don't have to worry about system dependens bc its crossplatform.

[booe]

Winsock.

[Brainsaw]

My vote goes to IrrnetLite. Works fine for me (although my current usage in "Stunt Marble Racers" is quite a hack, but I'm planning to add networking to my IrrOde wrapper in the future, and I already have some ideas on how to get that done in a better way).

[Sylence]

RakNet ?

Oh and btw: Winsock is almost POSIX compatible. IIrc you have one or two things that don't exist in Winsock. Anyway porting posix sockets to windows and back involves about 5 minutes of googling and two or three #ifdef blocks in your code.

[jimburnettva]

Yeah I just made my own C++ wrappers around Winsock2 and then when I compile on Linux is super easy to re-compile.

Thanks for the replys!

(p.s. I don't get email notifications from this site, something messed up?)

RakNet ?

Oh and btw: Winsock is almost POSIX compatible. IIrc you have one or two things that don't exist in Winsock. Anyway porting posix sockets to windows and back involves about 5 minutes of googling and two or three #ifdef blocks in your code.

[CuteAlien]

Just to mention it - there is also boost::asio. Not exactly the easiest to use, but one of the things it offers are wrappers around the sockets libraries on each OS.

And about email notifications - sorry, we can't do those on SF-forums.