A Wolfenstein 3D-inspired raycasting engine built from scratch in C
(we swear the low framerate is due to the GIF format :p )
cub3D is a 3D graphics project that recreates the fundamental raycasting techniques used in early 3D games like Wolfenstein 3D. This project demonstrates real-time 3D rendering using 2D raycasting algorithms, creating an immersive first-person perspective within a maze-like environment.
Built as part of the 42 school curriculum, this project emphasizes low-level graphics programming, mathematical precision, and performance optimization without relying on modern 3D graphics APIs.
- Real-time 3D rendering using raycasting algorithms
- Textured walls with XPM sprite support
- Smooth player movement with collision detection
- Camera rotation for full 360° exploration
- Configurable environments via
.cubmap files
- Z/S: Move forward/backward
- Q/D: Strafe left/right
- A/E: Rotate camera left/right
- Arrow Keys: Alternative movement/rotation
- ESC: Exit
- Double buffering for flicker-free rendering
- DDA algorithm for efficient ray-wall intersection
- Texture mapping with proper wall distance calculations
- Color-coded floors and ceilings
- Memory-safe implementation with proper cleanup
The heart of cub3D lies in its raycasting engine, which creates a 3D perspective from a 2D map:
- Ray Projection: For each screen column, cast a ray from the player's position
- DDA Traversal: Use Digital Differential Analyzer to efficiently step through grid cells
- Wall Detection: Identify the first wall intersection and calculate distance
- Height Calculation: Project wall height based on distance (closer = taller)
- Texture Mapping: Map the correct texture column to screen pixels
Player Position → Ray Direction → Wall Hit → Screen Projection
(x,y) (angle) (dist) (height)
cub3D/
├── srcs/ # Core engine implementation
│ ├── parsing/ # Map and configuration parser (pa_*.c)
│ ├── exec/ # Raycasting engine (exec*.c)
│ └── movement/ # Player controls (movement_*.c)
├── incs/ # Headers and constants
├── maps/ # Demo levels (.cub format)
├── textures/ # Wall textures (XPM format)
└── libs/ # Libraries (libft, MLX)
- Efficient ray casting using DDA instead of brute-force intersection
- Texture caching to avoid repeated file I/O
- Integer arithmetic where possible for speed
- Minimal system calls in the rendering loop
# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gcc make libxext-dev libbsd-dev
# The project includes MLX library - no additional installation needed# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/lgeniaux/cub4d.git
cd cub4d
# Compile the project
make
# Launch with demo map
./cub3D maps/demo.cubCreate custom levels using the .cub format:
NO ./textures/north_wall.xpm
SO ./textures/south_wall.xpm
EA ./textures/east_wall.xpm
WE ./textures/west_wall.xpm
F 139,119,101
C 135,206,235
1111111111
1000000001
10000N0001
1000000001
1111111111
| Component | Description | Files |
|---|---|---|
| Parser | .cub file parsing and validation |
pa_*.c (12 files) |
| Engine | Core raycasting and rendering | exec*.c (4 files) |
| Controls | Player movement and camera | movement_*.c (3 files) |
| Utils | Helper functions and utilities | Various |
Total: ~1,840 lines of C code across 21 source files
- 3D Graphics Mathematics: Vector operations, trigonometry, projection
- Algorithm Implementation: DDA, raycasting, texture mapping
- Performance Optimization: Real-time rendering constraints
- Memory Management: Proper allocation/deallocation in C
- Graphics Programming: Double buffering, event handling
- File Parsing: Custom format parsing and validation
The project uses a custom Makefile with dependency management:
- Automatic library compilation (libft, MLX)
- Comprehensive cleaning targets
- Optimized compilation flags (
-O3)
- 42 Norminette: Strict coding standards compliance
- Memory Safety: No leaks, proper error handling
42 School • Advanced C Programming • Computer Graphics