Haskell library for 2D drawing [closed]

Question

I basically want to create a full screen window and draw text on it in different colors and sizes (and also update the screen). I've used pygame for this in python and I'm looking for a similar library (should be fairly easy to use).

+1 if it handles input too...

Answer 1

Instead of picking individual libraries, I'll have a go at a quick overview at all of them, as listed in the Graphics section on Hackage.

Basic frameworks:

OpenGL

• Part of the Haskell Platform
• Used for many small 2 and 3D games.
• Examples: lambdacube-engine, roguestar-gl, hpong, monadius, raincat, frag

GTK

cabal install cairo

• Used for high quality two-d graphics/vector graphics.
• On Hackage
• Examples: diagrams, 4blocks, gameclock

QTHaskell

• Relatively little use, but when it is used, it is used notably.
• Not on Hackage, found here, due to C++ issues
• Notable users: Nikki and the Robots, a commercial game.

SDL

cabal install sdl

• On Hackage, quite widely used for game-like, interactive apps with 2D graphics.
• Examples: haskgame, Eternal10Seconds, HTicTacToe, RainCat, starrover

X11

cabal install X11

Venerable Unix user interfaces.

Examples: xmonad.

GD

cabal install gd

The GD graphics system. Package on hackage.

Examples: wordcloud, sparklines.

HOgre

cabal install hogre

Bindings to the Ogre game graphics system.

Now, besides these game layers, there are many higher level frameworks and tools:

Diagrams

cabal install diagrams

2D vector diagrams (e.g. for math), built on cairo.

• Examples: fractals.

Gloss

cabal install gloss

2D graphics, very easy interface, relatively new. See TomMD's comment.

• Examples: functional flocking

Cal3D

cabal install cal3d

Bindings to the Cal3D animation package.

Chalkboard

cabal install chalkboard

• URL
• Read the tutorial

OpenGL-based combinators for generating images, used in teaching.

TeaHS

cabal install TeaHS

• URL

A simple library for use creating 2D games, inspired by the Ruby library Tea.

Answer 2

If you're looking for a specialized game library, you have a number of options that you can find here. FunGEn is probably your best option out of those libraries. However, your question seems to suggest a game library would be a bit overkill, if all you're looking to do is draw text and receive input. In that case, you might opt for something simpler like HOpenGL or hsSDL. There are also several other libraries listed here.

Edit: After a bit more research, you might do well using haskgame. I've never used it myself, but it looks like it's got a few functions here that do exactly what you're looking for.

Answer 3

I'd recommend the new Gloss library as an easy way to get good results.

Gloss hides the pain of drawing simple vector graphics behind a nice data type and a few display functions. Gloss uses OpenGL and GLUT under the hood, but you won't have to worry about any of that. Get something cool on the screen in under 10 minutes.

There are also nice examples, such as:

and a nice example building flocking simulators

Alternatively, if it is vectors and text you want to manipulate, the diagrams package on top of cairo can yield very good results.

Answer 4

You could use Qt. That's what the cross platform Nikki And The Robots is using. You can see their source code and take a look at what they're doing.