$ show Nazariglez/notan
Notan is a cross-platform Rust framework for building interactive 2D applications and games. It provides a modular architecture with a core app lifecycle, graphics abstraction (OpenGL/WebGL via glow), input handling, audio (via oddio), asset loading, and an immediate-mode 2D draw API with automatic batching. The framework supports native desktop (winit/glutin) and web (wasm-bindgen) targets, with a plugin system for extensibility and an egui integration for immediate-mode GUI. The codebase is well-structured into ~20 crates, each with clear responsibilities, and includes a macro crate for ergonomic shader compilation and state management. Despite its polish, the project is in slow maintenance mode as stated in the README, with infrequent commits and some unfinished features (e.g., commented-out instanced image code, TODOs in graphics pipelines). The dependency versions are relatively recent (winit 0.30, egui 0.31, glow 0.16), but platform-specific workarounds and scattered `cfg` conditionals indicate potential drift. The extensive example suite demonstrates real-world usage patterns, from simple 2D games to 3D rendering with instancing and post-processing. The framework's strength lies in its clean separation of concerns: a backend trait for platform abstraction, a plugin lifecycle for modular features, and a draw API that abstracts batching and tessellation. The asset system with custom parsers and the compile-time shader macro are standout components. However, the project's maintenance status and some rough edges (e.g., debug assertions, manual keycode mappings) prevent it from being exceptional. It remains a solid choice for developers seeking a lightweight, portable Rust multimedia layer.
The LLM identified 5 files worth highlighting for reuse:
Defines the `Plugin` trait with lifecycle methods (init, pre_frame, event, update, draw, post_frame) returning `AppFlow` to control execution flow. The `Plugins` container manages registration and iteration. This pattern is reusable for any framework needing modular, hook-based extensions, and is cleanly decoupled from the rest of the app.
Implements `Batch` struct that groups draw calls by texture, pipeline, and blend mode to minimize state changes. The `needs_new_batch` logic efficiently decides when to flush. This is a self-contained, reusable component for any 2D renderer that wants automatic batching without external dependencies.
Provides `vertex_shader!` and `fragment_shader!` macros that compile GLSL-like shader code to SPIR-V at compile time using `spirv-cross`, then transpile to GLSL for the target platform. This is a non-trivial metaprogramming pattern that can be extracted for any Rust project needing cross-platform shader handling.
Implements `EguiPlugin` that integrates egui into the notan app lifecycle: translates input events, manages egui textures, and renders clipped primitives using a custom pipeline. Demonstrates the `GfxExtension` pattern for adding custom rendering to the graphics system. Reusable as a template for integrating other immediate-mode GUIs.
Manages asynchronous asset loading with custom parsers (texture, audio). Uses a `DoneSignal` for completion tracking and a dummy waker for wasm compatibility. The `Asset` type provides a safe handle with lifecycle management. This pattern is reusable for any Rust application needing typed, async asset loading with custom parsers.