A simple, lightweight, and reliable UDP networking library written in pure C with optional in-order packet delivery.
ENet is a reliable UDP networking library written in pure C that provides a thin communication layer on top of UDP. It solves the problem of unreliable packet delivery by offering optional reliable, in-order transmission and fragmentation, making it ideal for real-time applications where TCP overhead is undesirable.
Developers building real-time networked applications such as games, simulation tools, or embedded systems that require low-latency, reliable communication without the complexity of TCP.
Developers choose ENet for its simplicity, lightweight design, and proven reliability in handling UDP-based networking with minimal overhead, offering a portable and embeddable solution that avoids application-specific bloat.
⚡️ ENet reliable UDP networking library
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Can be used as a single-header library with minimal overhead, making it ideal for performance-sensitive and embedded systems, as shown in the preferred usage example.
Provides optional reliable, in-order packet delivery and fragmentation over UDP, addressing UDP's limitations without TCP's overhead, which is the primary feature described.
Written entirely in C, it's highly portable and easy to integrate into various platforms, from desktop to embedded environments, ensuring broad compatibility.
Includes IPv6 support alongside IPv4, as highlighted in the fork's changes, ensuring modern network compatibility without additional dependencies.
Omits encryption and authentication, as stated in the README, requiring developers to implement these separately if needed, which adds complexity and potential security risks.
Tutorials are hosted on an external site (enet.bespin.org) that may not reflect the fork's updates, leading to potential confusion and outdated information for users.
As a fork with significant changes from the original stable library, it might introduce bugs or lack the same level of long-term testing, as acknowledged in the disclaimer.