GitHub Repository

A Minecraft-like voxel game written in C using OpenGL. This project focuses on memory management and modern graphics programming techniques to create a block-based 3D world where players can build and explore.

• Procedural terrain generation with multiple biomes
• Dynamic chunk loading and management
• Block placement and destruction with raycast selection
• Procedural tree generation
• Texture atlas support for various block types
• Performance optimizations with mesh batching
• Lighting system with softened shadows
• Multithreaded mesh updates for improved performance and responsiveness

malloc-craft uses a multithreaded architecture to keep gameplay smooth and responsive, especially when updating chunk and world meshes. Mesh updates are performed in background threads, allowing rendering and input to remain fast even as the world changes.

• Main/render thread: Handles rendering, input, and overall game loop.
• Chunk mesh updater thread: Periodically updates chunk meshes in the background. See src/chunk_mesh.c (start_chunk_mesh_updater).
• World mesh updater thread: Periodically rebuilds the world mesh from chunk meshes. See src/world_mesh.c (start_world_mesh_updater).

Shared data such as mesh buffers and game state are protected using mutexes (lock_mesh/unlock_mesh) to ensure thread safety and prevent race conditions.

Threads communicate and share data via the game_data structure. Mesh updates are triggered by camera movement or player actions, and the results are synchronized for rendering.

When adding new threaded features, always use proper synchronization. Watch for deadlocks and race conditions. For debugging, focus on thread interactions and shared data access.

• src/chunk_mesh.c – Chunk mesh updater logic
• src/world_mesh.c – World mesh updater logic
• Functions: start_chunk_mesh_updater, start_world_mesh_updater, lock_mesh, unlock_mesh

Many parts of malloc-craft are configurable. Please see include/settings.h for more information.

• include/ – Header files defining the game's architecture
• src/ – Source directory
• lib/ – Third-party libraries
  • cglm – Math library optimized for graphics programming
  • GLFW – Platform-independent window and input handling
  • glad – OpenGL loading library
  • stb_image – Image loading utilities
• res/ – Game resources
  • shaders/ – GLSL shader programs
  • atlas.png / atlas.xcf - Texture atlas image and GIMP file
  • skybox.png / skybox.xcf - Skybox image and GIMP file

• CMake (version 3.10 or higher)
• C compiler with C11 support (gcc, clang, MSVC)
• OpenGL 3.3+ compatible graphics hardware and drivers

1. Clone the repository with submodules:

   git clone  https://github.com/MankowskiNick/malloc-craft.git
   cd malloc-craft

2. Create a build directory:

   mkdir build && cd build

3. Generate the build files with CMake:

   cmake ..

4. Build the project:

   make

• GLFW – Window and input management
• cglm – Graphics math library
• stb – Image loading
• glad – OpenGL loading