ClanLib is a game SDK that has the same license as IrrLicht (BSD/zlib style license)
ClanLib can display 3D games. However it does not (and will not) directly load and manage 3D objects in the API.
There are a couple of reasons for this. First, libraries already exists (IrrLicht). Second, it is extremely difficult to create an API that is flexible but powerful.
I have been using ClanLib since 2001, but have only been an active developer for 3 years now. During that time, I have created numerous 3D examples. The 3D object loader code is contained within the example (I wrote a simple Collada loader). http://clanlib.org/wiki/Examples
I use a closed-source 3D library using ClanLib, which loads and displays a complete Lightwave 3D scene (including bones and other effects). But that is closed-source, and will stay that way.
It would be wrong and silly to merge ClanLib and IrrLicht.
Ideally, I would like to see some form of interoperability between the libraries.
It would allow IrrLicht 3D scene management and be used with ClanLib’s features.
For interest, ClanLib features include:
- clanCore: CSS, File loader, Math functions (lines, matrices, Bezier curves etc), Resources, Signals, System (from threads to interlocked variables) Custom string handling, XML
clanCSSLayout: (Being developed in ClanLib 2.3 SVN) Render a HTML page to OpenGL texture
clanDatabase: Includes API to SQLite database
clanSound: Includes clanVorbis, clanMikmod
clanRegExp: API to Regular expressions
clanNetwork: API from low level to high level network communication.
clanDisplay: Includes clanGL (OpenGL 3.x), clanGL1 (OpenGL 1.3), clanSWRender (SSE2 based software renderer)
I had a look at CIrrDeviceWin32, and at first glance it appears that it should be trivial to get Irrlicht to use clanDisplay (with a chosen target).
It is possible to use just clanCore and Irrlicht without a single modification.
Writing this, I am not sure if it’s worth the effort
I guess serious developers will have there own tuned version of Irrlicht containing extracts of other libraries.