C++ Game Engine Programming

This course provides a gentle and comprehensive introduction to the basics of 2D game engine architecture. We will cover several popular programming patterns used in game development and try to apply all the theory in practice by writing a small 2D game engine using modern C++, SDL, and Lua.

We will write a small ECS framework from scratch to manage entities, components, and systems. We will discuss how engine developers design their code and how to organize game objects in memory with performance in mind.

Tools You Will Need

Tools for a C++ Game Engine:

• C++: A powerful compiled programming language.
• SDL2: A library for cross-platform rendering and input.
• GLM: A library for mathematical calculations.
• Dear ImGui: A library for creating engine tool interfaces.
• Sol: A library for binding modern C++ and Lua.
• Lua: A fast and easy-to-use scripting language.

We will try to write most of our engine code from scratch. All these libraries and tools are cross-platform, so you will be able to write code on Windows, macOS, or Linux!

Is This Course Right for You?

Target Audience: Beginner programmers looking to learn C++ in the context of game development. Students should be able to write basic code (if-else, loops, functions, classes) and be familiar with OOP.

Required Knowledge: You do not need to know C++ before starting the course. Many successful students have had experience developing web, mobile, and game applications in languages like Java, Python, Ruby, Go, Swift, JavaScript, and others.

Course Differences

The course does not just teach how to create a game in C++. It allows you to understand the abstraction of the game and write a small engine from scratch in C++, covering ECS, data-oriented design, C++ templates, the game loop, SDL rendering, event systems, resource management, memory, and performance. It also includes integrating Lua into C++ code to add scripting capabilities.

Although there are other resources on game engine development, they are either too theoretical or excessively long. If you are looking for a gentle introduction to the world of game engine programming and want to understand how games work from the inside out, this course is for you!