What is this?
Matter.js is a JavaScript 2D rigid body physics engine for the web — a physics simulation you drop into web pages and Node.js apps.
Matter.js is a JavaScript 2D rigid body physics engine for the web — a physics simulation you drop into web pages and Node.js apps.Is it a physics library I call from my own code, or more of a ready-made game engine?It's a library you drive from your own JavaScript, not a full game engine. It ships a canvas renderer, but the docs show how to plug it into your own game and rendering loops.
It's a library you drive from your own JavaScript, not a full game engine. It ships a canvas renderer, but the docs show how to plug it into your own game and rendering loops.How do I add it to a web project?Install with npm or Yarn (npm install matter-js), or download a stable release and include the script in your page. There are no runtime dependencies to set up first.
Install with npm or Yarn (npm install matter-js), or download a stable release and include the script in your page. There are no runtime dependencies to set up first.Any gotchas when running it inside modern bundlers and frameworks?Yes: default bundler and framework configs can hurt real-time performance, especially in development. The README specifically calls out Webpack sourcemaps and Vue.js watchers as having a large impact.
Yes: default bundler and framework configs can hurt real-time performance, especially in development. The README specifically calls out Webpack sourcemaps and Vue.js watchers as having a large impact.Does it only run in the browser, or can I use it on the server and on mobile too?Both browsers and Node.js are supported — Chrome, Firefox, Safari and even IE8+ — and it is mobile-compatible with touch and responsive support.
Both browsers and Node.js are supported — Chrome, Firefox, Safari and even IE8+ — and it is mobile-compatible with touch and responsive support.What does the physics simulation actually cover?Rigid, compound and composite bodies, concave and convex hulls, restitution, friction, constraints, gravity, sleeping and static bodies, collision queries like raycasting and region tests, and time scaling for slow-motion effects.
Rigid, compound and composite bodies, concave and convex hulls, restitution, friction, constraints, gravity, sleeping and static bodies, collision queries like raycasting and region tests, and time scaling for slow-motion effects.Is it a port of another physics engine?No — the README points out it is an original JavaScript implementation, not a port.
No — the README points out it is an original JavaScript implementation, not a port.Can I extend the engine with plugins?Yes, it has a plugin system. The README links guides on using and creating plugins, a list of existing plugins, and a matter-plugin-boilerplate starter.
Yes, it has a plugin system. The README links guides on using and creating plugins, a list of existing plugins, and a matter-plugin-boilerplate starter.What is MatterTools?A set of tools bundled with the engine for creating, testing and debugging physics worlds.
A set of tools bundled with the engine for creating, testing and debugging physics worlds.What are similar projects?zdog, phaser, pixijs, WebGL-Fluid-Simulation, particles.js, rough, react-native-skia, paper.js
zdog, phaser, pixijs, WebGL-Fluid-Simulation, particles.js, rough, react-native-skia, paper.jsWhich topics is it in?physics-engine, 2d, physics, creative-coding, canvas, simulation, rendering, game-development, graphics, javascript-library, real-time, animation
physics-engine, 2d, physics, creative-coding, canvas, simulation, rendering, game-development, graphics, javascript-library, real-time, animation