Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#?

Posted by larswinback on Friday August 16, 2013 @06:10AM
from the ask-hn dept.

C# is a relatively high level language which is exceptionally suited for games. Are there any alternatives which are as good as it on Linux? Suitable for game development of course. Or completely different languages that are good for game dev if you think that.

( 13 comments | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by claytonaalves on Friday August 16, 2013 @07:52AM (#6223388)

Lua has LÖVE (https://love2d.org/), a 2D engine. Python has PyGame (http://www.pygame.org/). Both are cross platform interpreted languages. If you are planning to develop for mobile, unfortunately there's no cross platform.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by larswinback on Friday August 16, 2013 @07:58AM (#6223413)

I'm doing 3D games though, with OpenGL. Would definitely use LÖVE if I was doing 2D games.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by bdfh42 on Friday August 16, 2013 @06:13AM (#6223123)

People often describe C# as "Java done right" - so Java? Certainly cross platform.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by larswinback on Friday August 16, 2013 @06:14AM (#6223128)

The problem here is "done right". Java is certainly not as polished as C# in a lot of senses.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by bdfh42 on Friday August 16, 2013 @06:39AM (#6223189)

True but everything is there if you dig deep enough.

You say you are looking for an alternative to C# and with Linux support - why is that - what are you looking for in addition to what C# has to offer on that platform?

[Edit]Comment indentation limits stop me replying to the reply below so. OK, you can't run visual Studio on Linux but you can code in C# against the .NET framework. Have you looked at the Mono project?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by larswinback on Friday August 16, 2013 @07:32AM (#6223327)

I have looked at it, yes. But it seems like it's not very well integrated with Linux. On Linux I usually prefer to use a text editor for editing code. So I would prefer a language which suits being edited in one.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by larswinback on Friday August 16, 2013 @06:42AM (#6223193)

What I'm really looking for is a language suited for gamedev. And I've found C# with Visual Studio fits that very well. Unfortunately I mostly use Linux.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by m1k3yboi on Friday August 16, 2013 @06:34AM (#6223179)

Simple. C or C++. Highly portable, C++ is widely used by Game Devs.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by larswinback on Friday August 16, 2013 @06:36AM (#6223182)

I would probably pick C++ then. Like it better than Java, but unfortunately not as good as C#.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by m1k3yboi on Friday August 16, 2013 @06:44AM (#6223198)

Lua?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by larswinback on Friday August 16, 2013 @07:01AM (#6223248)

Kind of nice. Does it have OpenGL support though?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by m1k3yboi on Friday August 16, 2013 @08:26AM (#6223540)

Yes, there is a LuaGL binding. Angry birds is written with Lua so it can't be too bad.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: What's a good cross platform alternative to C#? by gringofyx on Friday August 16, 2013 @06:14AM (#6223129)

Mono?

[ Parent | on HN ]