Question 1

How does ENet compare to using TCP for multiplayer games?

Accepted Answer

ENet uses UDP with optional reliability, offering lower latency and more control over packet delivery than TCP's built-in guarantees, but you must handle packet loss and ordering manually. It's better for real-time games where latency is critical, though it lacks TCP's automatic error correction.

Question 2

How to add encryption to ENet for secure messaging?

Accepted Answer

ENet doesn't include encryption; you need to implement it on top, such as using TLS/DTLS or custom encryption before sending packets. This adds development overhead but keeps the library lightweight and flexible for your specific needs.

Question 3

Is ENet good for mobile game development?

Accepted Answer

Yes, its pure C implementation and lightweight design make it portable to mobile platforms, but you'll need to handle platform-specific network issues like UDP restrictions on cellular networks and potential battery consumption from constant polling.

Question 4

What are the performance benchmarks for ENet?

Accepted Answer

ENet is designed for low overhead, but specific benchmarks vary by use case. It's often used in games for efficiency, but you should test in your environment to ensure it meets latency and throughput requirements, as the library focuses on core networking without built-in profiling tools.

Question 5

How to set up a basic server-client with ENet in C++?

Accepted Answer

Include the single-header file, define ENET_IMPLEMENTATION in one source file, then use enet_host_create for server or client, and handle events with enet_host_service, as shown in the README examples. It requires manual event loop management and error handling for robust implementation.

Question 6

ENet vs RakNet: which is better?

Accepted Answer

ENet is simpler and more lightweight, focusing only on reliable UDP, while RakNet offers more features like VoIP and NAT traversal but is heavier and more complex. Choose ENet for minimalism and control, or RakNet if you need a comprehensive, out-of-the-box solution.

ENet

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