LibGodot: Core - Build Godot Engine as a Library by kisg · Pull Request #110863 · godotengine/godot

kisg · 2025-09-24T14:48:59Z

This PR is Part 1 of the refactoring of the original Migeran LibGodot PR: #90510
It includes the core parts required for building and loading Godot Engine as a library.

Includes:

Add a new GodotInstance GDCLASS that provides startup and iteration commands to control a Godot instance.
Adds a libgodot_create_godot_instance entry point that creates a new Godot instance and returns a GodotInstance object.
Adds a libgodot_destroy_godot_instance entry point that destroys the Godot instance.
Supports: Linux, Windows and MacOS.

Sample Apps: https://github.com/migeran/libgodot_project

Developed by Migeran

Sponsors & Acknowledgements:

Initial development sponsored by Smirk Software
Rebasing to Godot 4.3 and further development sponsored by Xibbon Inc. * The GDExtension registration of the host process & build system changes were based
on @Faolan-Rad's LibGodot PR: LibGodot with GDExtension #72883
Thanks to Ben Rog-Wilhelm (Zorbathut) for creating a smaller, minimal commit for easier review: Implement LibGodot, a currently-minimal API to embed Godot as a library. #110441
Thanks to Ernest Lee (iFire) for his support.

Contributed by Migeran. Sponsored by Xogot. 🐬

core/string/string_name.cpp

core/core_string_names.h

EricApostal · 2025-09-24T15:25:54Z

Pretty excited to see this - how will this be handled in conjunction with #110441?

zorbathut · 2025-09-24T15:32:29Z

Pretty excited to see this - how will this be handled in conjunction with #110441?

It's basically the same thing as #110441, plus Mac support, plus a few minor features that I personally think shouldn't be included but overall don't care. I am happy for the core team to pick whichever they prefer as long as one of them makes it into 4.6 (ideally sooner rather than later so I can also get proper C#-within-C# support on top of it :V)

core/config/project_settings.cpp

core/extension/godot_instance.cpp

EricApostal · 2025-09-24T17:01:56Z

To @fire's point in this PR alongside #110441 - I see a lot of issues with the name libgodot, reason being that the lib prefix is a very strong convention in Android. When loading native libraries, Android will automatically bundle lib- prefixed libraries (in the folder for the target ABI), thus some binary otherwise named godot would in this instance be libgodot.so.

What about something like GDEmbedded or GodotEmbedded? I don't completely hate embedded, but that feels too generic.

dsnopek · 2025-09-24T17:25:16Z

We should discuss if we want to call this "libgodot", however:

What about something like GDEmbedded or GodotEmbedded? I don't completely hate embedded, but that feels too generic.

I'm not crazy about "embedded". That name is generic enough that it could conflict with some completely unrelated thing we want to call "embedded" in the future.

What I like about "libgodot" is that it is very specific, and sounds kind of like a product/feature name, so it seems unlikely to conflict with something else in the future. It may be the best option we've come up with so far.

EricApostal · 2025-09-24T17:35:50Z

What I like about "libgodot" is that it is very specific, and sounds kind of like a product/feature name, so it seems unlikely to conflict with something else in the future. It may be the best option we've come up with so far.

Yeah that makes sense, so long as there's no naming conflicts which it sounds like there aren't.

kisg · 2025-09-24T19:39:32Z

As discussed in the Core meeting, I just updated the PR:

* Removed restart support - and the associated StringName changes

Removed the engine callbacks (not needed on the desktop)

In the destroy function I added this code instead of introducing a new static variable:

		// Note: When Godot Engine supports reinitialization, clear the instance pointer here.
		// instance = nullptr;

My rationale is that this should be a temporary state, until the reinitialization PR is merged.

Should be ready for review @dsnopek @Repiteo.

kisg · 2025-09-24T19:46:17Z

@EricApostal @dsnopek

With regards to Android: our Android version (still working on updating from 4.4 to 4.5 and master) actually builds as "libgodot_android.so" and it is very close to the non-LibGodot version, so it might be possible that on Android we just use the LibGodot build, if we can make it acceptable to @dsnopek and @m4gr3d.

zorbathut · 2025-10-01T04:02:10Z

Anything I can poke to keep this moving along? Happy to help with it if possible.

kisg · 2025-10-01T07:42:43Z

@zorbathut If I understand it correctly we are waiting on @Repiteo 's review on the build system part, and then we should be good to go.

@dsnopek Do we need anything else to move forward?

kisg · 2025-10-01T07:45:59Z

@zorbathut In the meantime you can prepare your .NET PR on top of this PR. That is what I am doing with our start / stop and UI embedding / platform support PRs.

Repiteo

Excellent job so far! This is obviously something that has been in the works for a looong time.

The buildsystem side of things is mostly accounted for, but there's a few things that need tweaking. Most notably: we shouldn't be hardcoding the platforms which support compiling as a library. This information can be conveyed through the "supports" flag that platforms can pass. As this is a more involved change, I've opted to put this implementation specifically in a dedicated diff:

diff

 SConstruct                  | 14 +++++++-------
 platform/linuxbsd/detect.py |  2 +-
 platform/macos/detect.py    |  2 +-
 platform/windows/detect.py  |  2 +-
 4 files changed, 10 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)

diff --git a/SConstruct b/SConstruct
index 4ccf237cc8..326b4ab88a 100644
--- a/SConstruct
+++ b/SConstruct
@@ -356,13 +356,6 @@ if not env["platform"]:
     if env["platform"]:
         print(f"Automatically detected platform: {env['platform']}")
 
-# Library Support
-if env["library_type"] != "executable":
-    if env["platform"] not in ["linuxbsd", "macos", "windows"]:
-        print_error(f"Library builds not yet supported for {env['platform']}")
-        Exit(255)
-    env.Append(CPPDEFINES=["LIBGODOT_ENABLED"])
-
 # Deprecated aliases kept for compatibility.
 if env["platform"] in compatibility_platform_aliases:
     alias = env["platform"]
@@ -571,6 +564,13 @@ if not env["deprecated"]:
 if env["precision"] == "double":
     env.Append(CPPDEFINES=["REAL_T_IS_DOUBLE"])
 
+# Library Support
+if env["library_type"] != "executable":
+    if "library" not in env.get("supported", []):
+        print_error(f"Library builds unsupported for {env['platform']}")
+        Exit(255)
+    env.Append(CPPDEFINES=["LIBGODOT_ENABLED"])
+
 # Default num_jobs to local cpu count if not user specified.
 # SCons has a peculiarity where user-specified options won't be overridden
 # by SetOption, so we can rely on this to know if we should use our default.
diff --git a/platform/linuxbsd/detect.py b/platform/linuxbsd/detect.py
index 5f929c5925..03fdddd5de 100644
--- a/platform/linuxbsd/detect.py
+++ b/platform/linuxbsd/detect.py
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def get_doc_path():
 def get_flags():
     return {
         "arch": detect_arch(),
-        "supported": ["mono"],
+        "supported": ["library", "mono"],
     }
 
 
diff --git a/platform/macos/detect.py b/platform/macos/detect.py
index 9873233baa..c5846c34a1 100644
--- a/platform/macos/detect.py
+++ b/platform/macos/detect.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def get_flags():
         "arch": detect_arch(),
         "use_volk": False,
         "metal": True,
-        "supported": ["metal", "mono"],
+        "supported": ["library", "metal", "mono"],
     }
 
 
diff --git a/platform/windows/detect.py b/platform/windows/detect.py
index d5a8eb5f85..973be3e6b2 100644
--- a/platform/windows/detect.py
+++ b/platform/windows/detect.py
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ def get_flags():
 
     return {
         "arch": arch,
-        "supported": ["d3d12", "dcomp", "mono", "xaudio2"],
+        "supported": ["d3d12", "dcomp", "library", "mono", "xaudio2"],
     }

Everything else is covered in the following suggestions

platform/windows/SCsub

methods.py

platform/macos/SCsub

platform/linuxbsd/SCsub

Repiteo

That applies most of the suggested changes, but you still need to apply the above diff. If you missed it, the > diff part can be expanded by clicking

@Faolan-Rad

* Add a new GodotInstance GDCLASS that provides startup and iteration commands to control a Godot instance. * Adds a libgodot_create_godot_instance entry point that creates a new Godot instance and returns a GodotInstance object. * Adds a libgodot_destroy_godot_instance entry point that destroys the Godot instance. Sample Apps: https://github.com/migeran/libgodot_project Developed by [Migeran](https://migeran.com) Sponsors & Acknowledgements: * Initial development sponsored by [Smirk Software](https://www.smirk.gg/) * Rebasing to Godot 4.3 and further development sponsored by [Xibbon Inc.](https://xibbon.com) * The GDExtension registration of the host process & build system changes were based on @Faolan-Rad's LibGodot PR: godotengine#72883 * Thanks to Ben Rog-Wilhelm (Zorbathut) for creating a smaller, minimal version for easier review. * Thanks to Ernest Lee (iFire) for his support Co-Authored-By: Gabor Koncz <gabor.koncz@migeran.com> Co-Authored-By: Ben Rog-Wilhelm <zorba-github@pavlovian.net>

Repiteo · 2025-10-08T19:09:39Z

Thanks! Excellent work to everyone who helped get this together & set the groundwork for this heavily-anticipated feature!

bruvzg · 2025-10-22T06:53:41Z

platform/macos/libgodot_macos.mm

+	os = new OS_MacOS_NSApp(p_argv[0], remaining_args, remaining_args > 0 ? &p_argv[1] : nullptr);
+
+	@autoreleasepool {
+		Error err = Main::setup(p_argv[0], remaining_args, remaining_args > 0 ? &p_argv[1] : nullptr, false);


Note: this is not how macOS app lifecycle works.

OS_MacOS_NSApp is calling it automatically (from applicationDidFinishLaunching), so it will be called twice and likely won't work.

Normal init is:

create OS.

call OS::run() (which will NOT return until app is finished), it will call Main::setup, Main::start and adds main loop observer which runs Main::iteration().

LibGodot introduces a new way of instantiating and controlling Godot, which is the whole point of it, so calling OS::run() would make no sense for us. As stated in the PR (and in the original PR) here are a few sample apps: https://github.com/migeran/libgodot_project/tree/libgodot_migeran_core.

You are right, that probably we should have used our own OS_MacOS subclass (or the embedded one), but since we never call OS::run(), the NSApplication won't run, so the applicationDidFinishLaunching() call will never be made, so it is not an immediate problem. We will make a PR for this, to make it cleaner.

Mickeon

There was a pending review I forgot to submit.

Mickeon · 2025-10-06T11:14:48Z

platform/linuxbsd/libgodot_linuxbsd.cpp

+	instance = memnew(GodotInstance);
+	if (!instance->initialize(p_init_func)) {
+		memdelete(instance);
+		// Note: When Godot Engine supports reinitialization, clear the instance pointer here.


I've never seen a Note in the source code comments, personally? Just a nitpick. The note implies Godot will support it someday, so it may be more appropriate a TODO here

It already works, and it is used in production by many users. Check the original PR for the code: #90510

As requested, the original PR is being broken up into smaller pieces, this functionality is one of the next PRs we are working on to submit for reviews.

Lukinch · 2025-11-06T22:47:22Z

Will Android and iOS be supported in the future?
I only see Linux, Windows and MacOS supported at the time of writing.

kisg · 2025-11-06T22:56:03Z

Will Android and iOS be supported in the future? I only see Linux, Windows and MacOS supported at the time of writing.

Both iOS and Android already work on the 4.5 branch, we just need to split all the code up into multiple PRs to get it reviewed and merged:

https://github.com/migeran/libgodot/tree/libgodot_migeran_45
https://github.com/migeran/libgodot/releases/tag/4.5.1.migeran.2

Both iOS and Android support is used in production already:

Xogot is based on LibGodot iOS (and also sponsored by): https://xogot.com/
React Native Godot, which was released this week and which we (Migeran) also developed is also based on LibGodot (both for iOS and Android): https://github.com/borndotcom/react-native-godot

LibGodot: Core - Build Godot Engine as a Library

whiletrue111 · 2026-01-26T19:52:46Z

Where Can I find any examples that are not 2 years old or documentation on how to use it in windows ?

thygrrr · 2026-01-26T20:24:42Z

Where Can I find any examples that are not 2 years old or documentation on how to use it in windows ?

I have one in the works at https://GitHub.com/outfox/2dog (the twodog.Engine class and the build.py)

Nolram12345 · 2026-01-27T00:31:54Z

Is there any written API / usage documentation about this? Seems super fascinating but it currently seems entirely undocumented on the side of Godot documentation.

zorbathut · 2026-01-27T01:36:10Z

Yeah it's quite undocumented.

I've got a working example at https://github.com/zorbathut/libgodot_example and a half-baked example for csharp-in-csharp at https://github.com/zorbathut/libgodot_example/tree/csharp though the csharp-in-csharp version requires engine patches and I need to clean both up (in fact, lemme go do that now.)

whiletrue111 · 2026-01-27T05:51:12Z

how do i even compile the godot engine to be lib?

whiletrue111 · 2026-01-27T06:01:45Z

Yeah it's quite undocumented.

I've got a working example at https://github.com/zorbathut/libgodot_example and a half-baked example for csharp-in-csharp at https://github.com/zorbathut/libgodot_example/tree/csharp though the csharp-in-csharp version requires engine patches and I need to clean both up (in fact, lemme go do that now.)

Great C++ example , i think its the first complite i found .
Im looking for one that will combine in to windows desktop even loop .
go into :

int WINAPI wWinMain(HINSTANCE instance, HINSTANCE, PWSTR, int)
CreateWindowExW( ... ) 
while (!quit) {
    MSG message{};
    while (PeekMessageW(&message, nullptr, 0, 0, PM_REMOVE))   ....

zorbathut · 2026-01-27T06:17:26Z

The tricky part is that Godot controls its own window - there's currently no way to embed the Godot rendering output in a window of your own. It might be possible to find and take over Godot's window; if not, then you may need to make more modifications to the Godot sourcecode to achieve whatever you want.

Also, I've updated the example, it now uses native 4.6 and has a better README.

clankill3r · 2026-01-28T08:46:35Z

That is here:
https://github.com/zorbathut/libgodot_example

kisg requested review from a team as code owners September 24, 2025 14:49

kisg mentioned this pull request Sep 24, 2025

Migeran LibGodot Feature #90510

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GeorgeS2019 mentioned this pull request Sep 25, 2025

Possible to create .NET csharp example illustrating the use case below? migeran/libgodot#1

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Repiteo added feature proposal and removed for pr meeting labels Oct 8, 2025

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Repiteo merged commit 7c03300 into godotengine:master Oct 8, 2025
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This was referenced Oct 8, 2025

Implement LibGodot, a currently-minimal API to embed Godot as a library. #110441

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Fix LibGodot build errors on Linux. #111432

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Yarwin mentioned this pull request Oct 9, 2025

Changes in GDExtension API broke nightly builds godot-rust/gdext#1362

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Repiteo mentioned this pull request Oct 20, 2025

LibGodot with GDExtension #72883

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svenpaulsen pushed a commit to svenpaulsen/godot that referenced this pull request Nov 27, 2025

Merge pull request godotengine#110863 from kisg/libgodot_migeran_core

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LibGodot: Core - Build Godot Engine as a Library

Calinou mentioned this pull request Nov 27, 2025

Mention LibGodot in Frequently asked questions godotengine/godot-docs#11503

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Copilot AI mentioned this pull request Dec 14, 2025

[WIP] Add C# example for building Godot as a library zinnin/LibGodotSharp-Example#1

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Nintorch mentioned this pull request Jan 4, 2026

Update the "Priorities" page to reflect the improvements in the engine godotengine/godot-website#1232

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Collect frequently used C/C++ packages xmake-io/xmake-repo#10

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