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Top 18 C++ vulkan-api Projects
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bgfx
Cross-platform, graphics API agnostic, "Bring Your Own Engine/Framework" style rendering library.
Project mention: Layers All the Way Down: The Untold Story of Shader Compilation | news.ycombinator.com | 2025-05-18BGFX (https://github.com/bkaradzic/bgfx) uses a different approach. You basically write your shader in a GLSL-like language but it's all just (either very clever or very horrible) macro expansions that handles all the platform differences.
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JetBrains
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Project mention: Ask HN: What are good high information density UIs (screenshots, apps, sites) | news.ycombinator.com | 2025-05-08
Tracy [1] is the first thing that comes to my mind, then RenderDoc [2].
After that Visual Studio while debugging. In general, I think graphical debuggers and profiling tools do a relatively good job of packing lots of information into many, small windows.
[1] https://github.com/wolfpld/tracy
[2] https://github.com/baldurk/renderdoc
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The-Forge
The Forge Cross-Platform Framework PC Windows, Steamdeck (native), Ray Tracing, macOS / iOS, Android, XBOX, PS4, PS5, Switch, Quest 2
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The other problem is that modern graphics APIs got so complex that they're intimidating even to experienced developers.
When that 'first triangle on screen' code [looks something like this](https://github.com/KhronosGroup/Vulkan-Samples/blob/main/sam...) compared to [the old days](https://github.com/gamedev-net/nehe-opengl/blob/master/vc/Le...), it's not surprising that most game devs now choose a ready-made engine where they can get straight to game logic or playing with shaders.
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MethaneKit
🎲 Modern 3D graphics made simple with C++20 cross-platform framework and rendering abstraction API on top of DirectX 12, Vulkan & Metal
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InfluxDB
InfluxDB – Built for High-Performance Time Series Workloads. InfluxDB 3 OSS is now GA. Transform, enrich, and act on time series data directly in the database. Automate critical tasks and eliminate the need to move data externally. Download now.
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GPU-Reshape
GPU Reshape (GRS) is an API & vendor agnostic instrumentation framework, with instruction level validation.
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Render Engine Infrastructure (REI)
REI is a cross-platform rendering framework and a comprehensive graphics API. Adaptable to various platforms, including PC, consoles, and mobile. It simplifies porting, especially for games developed on custom or proprietary engines. Functions as a cross-platform API as well as a helper library for platform-specific API. (by Dragons-Lake)
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NOTE:
The open source projects on this list are ordered by number of github stars.
The number of mentions indicates repo mentiontions in the last 12 Months or
since we started tracking (Dec 2020).
C++ vulkan-api discussion
C++ vulkan-api related posts
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A Taxonomy for Rendering Engines
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ConfettiFX the Forge 1.63 Released
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The Forge: cross-platform graphics framework from SW Bounty Hunter and Warzone
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Google's First Tensor Processing Unit: Architecture
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WebKit Switching to Skia for 2D Graphics Rendering
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Abstraction arround CommandBuffers and Queues
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Question regarding descriptor set binding invalidation/disturbing over pipeline boundaries
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A note from our sponsor - Sevalla
sevalla.com | 31 Aug 2025
Index
What are some of the best open-source vulkan-api projects in C++? This list will help you:
| # | Project | Stars |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | bgfx | 16,054 |
| 2 | renderdoc | 9,933 |
| 3 | The-Forge | 5,239 |
| 4 | Vulkan-Samples | 4,881 |
| 5 | MethaneKit | 929 |
| 6 | liblava | 841 |
| 7 | DiligentCore | 691 |
| 8 | Yave | 491 |
| 9 | GPU-Reshape | 437 |
| 10 | clvk | 405 |
| 11 | VulkanCapsViewer | 373 |
| 12 | VulkanExamples | 356 |
| 13 | magma | 309 |
| 14 | KDGpu | 144 |
| 15 | Render Engine Infrastructure (REI) | 66 |
| 16 | Vulkan-Guide | 28 |
| 17 | VulkanHelper | 7 |
| 18 | ZeroVulkan | 0 |
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