Need help getting started with Cocos2d-x to build for iOS & android

[iQD]

Just my 2c regarding the answers from @pococogames

Why you want to use java codes in the C++ project?

As I understand, he wants to use some platform specific features.

if you still want to use java in the c++ project, your answer isn’t here

Well, I already answered that question.

If you want to use network/social plugins, you need to use SDKBOX

This is an option, not a requirement.

if you still want to use java in the c++ project

Use a cross-platform language like Swift or Haxe instead.

[pococogames]

Use a cross-platform language like Swift or Haxe instead.

yep, haxe is good idea. But I don’t know, is there any cocos2d port for haxe?

[iQD]

As I know, there is no Haxe port and I can imagine there never will be. It would be a lot of work to support all backends.
cocos2d-x is just a cpp framework, so it would target only the Haxe cpp backend anyway.

If you don’t want to use cocos2d-x tho, there exist plenty of awesome Haxe game frameworks.

[pococogames]

Yep I had heard Haxeflixel. Did you use haxe? I just wonder, what do you think about cross compiler side of haxe? is it perfect?

[iQD]

Yep I had heard Haxeflixel.

I benchmarked and tested the major frameworks including HaxeFlixel. HaxeFlixel has not the best performance, but plenty of cool features.

Did you use haxe?

Yes, I’m using Haxe with Kha and various other Haxe libs.

I just wonder, what do you think about cross compiler side of haxe? is it perfect?

It’s just awesome. The language features are really great and the performance, depending on the framework, is outstanding. Despite using a GC, it’s nearly on par with C/C++ code. There never will be the perfect solution, but using a Haxe framework comes really close to that.
One codebase reaches Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, HTML5, Flash, Raspberry Pi, Xbox One, Tizen, PS Vita, PS4 and even Unity 3D (there are even more backends in the working).
The supported backends are also depending on the framework used.

Look at some benchmarks:
http://themozokteam.com/playground/frameworkstest/

Game Engine Benchmarking

cocos2d-x is below LibGDX (around MonoGame), as it heavily relies on a scene graph, which is hammering on the performance. The other frameworks do no rely on a scene graph.

E.g. my bunnymark on a Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016):
cocos2d-x: 2000 bunnies @ 60fps
Kha: 9000 bunnies @ 60fps

Real world results are depending on various other parameters and every engine/framework supports different features and have different usages and implementations.

[pococogames]

Hey thanks to detailed reply. Haxeflixel developers really love their development environment. I will try it in the future.

E.g. My bunnymark on a Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016):cocos2d-x: 2000 bunnies @ 60fpsKha: 9000 bunnies @ 60fps

Did you try in ios platform? I heard cocos2d-x performance isn’t better in android than ios. I had heard kha performance. I carried out a benchmark between unity and cocos2d-x with iphone4s.

eray-z/Game-Engine-Benchmarks

if you have iphone4s device, may you try benchmark with kha and share results to me?

[anon98020523]

@slackmoehrle

Sorry, what steps exactly then?

@iQD

You generate the project files for Eclipse and Android Studio with the cocos console tool.

proj.android-studio created when I create project with source code, and without proj.android-studio when using libs. Thats a bug?

@iQD

Developing for Android is not any different to developing for iOS or Desktop. You are just implementing your game in C++, which is then compiled to the specific platform with cocos compile.

So, lets pick an example - I created project with pre-compiled libs and now I want to add simple 1 in-app for android. How can I do that?

@pococogames

Why you want to use java codes in the C++ project?

As I said before in previous my post, I don’t know it this needed, just asking.[quote=“pococogames, post:50, topic:33909”]
You already use NDK to build c++ project to android platform. I developed an android game with cocos2d-x and I never use java until today.
[/quote]

Thats interesting. And I don’t want to use sdkbox or any other, I just want to implement my open source code.

@iQD

As I understand, he wants to use some platform specific features.

Yes, I would need to load and show game center score to user in android. Or this possible using only C++ code?

[iQD]

Hey thanks to detailed reply.

You’r welcome.

Haxeflixel developers really love their development environment.

Yeah, it’s cool.
The problem with HaxeFlixel is it’s performance. It does not come close to other solutions.
Another thing you have to consider is it’s Flash API. Maybe you don’t like that.

Did you try in ios platform?

Not at the moment. But look at the benchmark from @nivrig. I added the link in my previous post. He was running the bunnymark on iPhone 6s.

I heard cocos2d-x performance isn’t better in android than ios.

Yeah, but the difference is minimal. The performance gaps between cocos2d-x and other frameworks is really the same on every platform, be it iOS, Android or Desktop. It’s mainly because of the scene graph and differences in the backends. E.g. Kha and other frameworks even support Metal and Vulkan.

I had heard kha performance.

Plans are to beat Orx

if you have iphone4s device, may you try benchmark with kha and share results to me?

Unfortunately I only have a non jail broken iPhone 4 at the moment. I will ask around if some one did a benchmark on various devices.

[iQD]

proj.android-studio created when I create project with source code, and without proj.android-studio when using libs. Thats a bug?

Could be a bug. Normally you have to use the --android-studio option to generate an AS project. Without that option, it will generate an Eclipse project.

So, lets pick an example - I created project with pre-compiled libs and now I want to add simple 1 in-app for android. How can I do that?

With the IAP solution of your choice. SDKBox, MaaS solutions, IAP frameworks in C++ or with REST API.

As I said before in previous my post, I don’t know it this needed, just asking

It’s only needed, if your framework you want to use is Java only.

Thats interesting. And I don’t want to use sdkbox or any other, I just want to implement my open source code.

SDKBox is a framework for various “plugins” like IAP. They basically wrap some other Open Source frameworks.

Yes, I would need to load and show game center score to user in android. Or this possible using only C++ code?

No. Game Center is an Apple exclusive framework. You have to use an alternative.
IIRC you are not even allowed to use their REST API on other platforms.

[anon98020523]

@iQD

No. Game Center is an Apple exclusive framework. You have to use an alternative.IIRC you are not even allowed to use their REST API on other platforms.

Sorry, I just call it currently like that I don’t know how it’s in android, but I know there is something same, where I can store leaderboards and scores. So I just want to implement it in my game.[quote=“iQD, post:59, topic:33909”]
Normally you have to use the --android-studio option to generate an AS project. Without that option, it will generate an Eclipse project.
[/quote]

Can you please give an example? Because I don’t see how I can do this:

[iQD]

Sorry, I just call it currently like that I don’t know how it’s in android, but I know there is something same, where I can store leaderboards and scores. So I just want to implement it in my game.

The Android equivalent to Game Center would be Google Play Games:
https://developers.google.com/games/services/downloads/sdks

Can you please give an example? Because I don’t see how I can do this:

Sorry for the misunderstanding. The option is only for cocos compile, so you can specify which build system to use.

cocos new should create all eight project folders for you by default.

The versions I’m currently using:
cocos2d-x-3.12
Cocos Console 2.1

Which version do you have? Can you create a new project and check, which project folders are created?

[anon98020523]

@iQD

Which version do you have?

Latest. And I have a lot of problems already as its really buggy and almost nothing just compiles and work. Info here - Prebuilt generation not working in 3.13.1 and 3.11.1 - #32 by anon98020523

@iQD

Can you create a new project and check, which project folders are created?

Sure, I’m doing this many times already.

[iQD]

Pleas post the commands you entered in both cases.

[anon98020523]

Ah, sure :

1st

cocos new UseLibs -p projectname.com.name -l cpp -t binary

and 2nd

cocos new UseFullSourceCode -p projectname.com.name -l cpp

[pococogames]

Yes, I would need to load and show game center score to user in android. Or this possible using only C++ code?

Firstly you can’t use game center on android platform. You may use google play service.

As I said before in previous my post, I don’t know it this needed, just asking.

Sorry.I just had read your last post.

Thats interesting. And I don’t want to use sdkbox or any other, I just want to implement my open source code.

You always need to use official native plugin to add some services. SDKBOX Game Center solution(or smilar solutions) is just wrapper of official Game Center plugin. But ok, I understood you.

@iQD Thanks. Actually my mainly language option is c++ for game development. But I will try it for my future project. @slackmoehrle the discussion ended right now, sorry

[iQD]

It seems that the binary templates is not supporting every build system yet.

[anon98020523]

You mean Android Studio and Eclipse? I don’t know, but libs can’t be used in Android studio or smth?

[iQD]

I was only referring to Android Studio, as there is a binary template for Eclipse but not for the former.
Every build system needs special configuration files for using prebuild libraries. Maybe these files are not ready yet for Android Studio.

It’s the only reason I could imagine, why there is no binary template for Android Studio.

I’m sure @slackmoehrle can answer that question.

[stevetranby]

I believe the Android Studio build is NOT fully working just yet.

Use ndk-build with Android Studio.

[piotrros]

@stevetranby It’s a bit problematic to setup, but IT IS WORKING. I can confirm that Now I’m struggling to use precompiled libs to decrease compilation time, which is pretty slow on my iMac with goddamn 5400mbr hard drive. Feel free to help me fighting with gradle and ndk-build.