New post about raylib game in c

Author: maxclaus

content/blog/2025-03-28_game-c-raylib.md

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+title = "Building a Game in C"
+description = "Building a game in C with raylib library"
+
+# [extra]
+# [extra.shared]
+#   LinkedIn = ""
+#   Reddit = ""
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+
+After diving into Assembly programming, which I mention in my previous post, and gaining a better understanding of the basics of how programs work on a lower level.
+I decided it was time to move one level up and get some experience with [C][c_lang]. So I built a micro game as my first
+project.
+
+Some interesting points about C programming:
+
+1. C was first released in 1972. The latest stable release was in 2024 (C23), but it seems most projects are still using C99 from 1999.
+2. The [standard library][c_std_lib] is quite minimal. For instance, there is no built-in http server, you either need to build it
+   from scratch or rely on an external library. Typing and data structures are also minimal. For example,
+   there is no dynamic resizable arrays (a.k.a. vector), so once again, you either need to implement them yourself or use an external library.
+3. No garbage collector. For memory stored in the stack, the compiler takes care of managing the memory automatically. However,
+   dynamic memory, which is stored in the heap, must be managed manually using functions like `malloc`, `realloc`, and `free`.
+
+Some engineers might consider those points a drawback. However they also can be an advantage depending on your goal.
+Based on the previous points:
+
+1. Most projects still using C99 because it is good enough for what they need. It also keeps compatibility with wider range of other projects that are on C99 too.
+2. A minimal standard library is a good thing for those looking to build a small library/program. For instance, many projects using C run on
+   embedded systems, and even the standard library could be something they don't need. For more reasons,
+   check out [this Reddit thread][reddit_c_std_lib].
+3. No garbage collector running on a program means less overhead, as the memory management where data is allocated and
+   free is known at compile time.
+
+About the game, it uses [raylib][raylib], a simple library which makes programming video games quite enjoyable. Basically, the game engine works by
+re-drawing elements (e.g. pixel, shape, texture, and etc.) on every frame update. On each new frame, the screen is clean and
+the re-drawn happens again, reflecting the current state of the game, such as a character moving or reacting to
+collisions.
+
+In addition to rendering graphics, the game also includes sound effects, making the experience more engaging.
+
+Although the game was written in C, it targets both Desktop and Web platforms. The web version compiled to WebAssembly and can be
+played online at [maxclaus.itch.io/falling-world][game_url].
+
+Check out the [source code][repo_url] of the game if you are interested.
+
+At the end, I found super cool coding it in C, and working with dynamic memory allocation was particular interesting. I am excited
+to experiment more with C in future side projects.
+
+[c_lang]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_(programming_language)
+[raylib]: https://www.raylib.com/
+[c_std_lib]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_standard_library
+[reddit_c_std_lib]: https://www.reddit.com/r/C_Programming/comments/iqtvde/why_are_data_structures_not_part_of_the_standard/
+[game_url]: https://maxclaus.itch.io/falling-world
+[repo_url]: https://github.com/maxclaus/raylib-game