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BabylonJS vs Unity: What are the differences?
Introduction:
BabylonJS and Unity are two popular platforms used for creating interactive 3D graphics and games. While both platforms offer powerful tools and features, there are key differences that set them apart.
Programming Language: One of the major differences between BabylonJS and Unity is the programming language used. BabylonJS primarily uses JavaScript, making it easier for web developers to transition into game development. Unity, on the other hand, uses C#, which is versatile and widely used in the gaming industry.
Platform Compatibility: BabylonJS has better platform compatibility compared to Unity. BabylonJS is designed for web-based applications, supporting HTML5, WebGL, and WebVR technologies. Unity, on the other hand, is a standalone engine that supports multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Playstation, Xbox, and more.
Ease of Use: BabylonJS is often considered to have a steeper learning curve compared to Unity. Unity offers a more user-friendly interface with a visual editor, making it easier for beginners to create content without extensive coding knowledge. BabylonJS, on the other hand, requires more coding and customization for complex projects.
Community and Resources: Unity has a larger and more established community compared to BabylonJS. This means that there are more resources, tutorials, and support available for Unity developers. BabylonJS, while still having an active community, may have a smaller pool of available resources.
Development Environment: Unity provides a comprehensive development environment that includes a visual editor, asset management, and a wide range of built-in tools. BabylonJS, on the other hand, is more flexible and allows developers to choose their own development environment, whether it's a code editor or an integrated development environment (IDE).
Cost: Unity has a different pricing structure compared to BabylonJS. While BabylonJS is open-source and free to use, Unity offers a free version with limited features and requires a paid subscription for additional features and platform support. This can make Unity a more expensive option for developers or studios with specific needs.
In summary, BabylonJS and Unity differ in terms of programming language, platform compatibility, ease of use, community size, development environment, and cost. These differences should be considered when choosing the right tool for a specific project or requirement.
When I started to learn game development, I've tried to use Unity multiple times because it's the most popular option. But never get it worked because of the clunky UI which is very hard to understand for a new user. After some time, I've decided to try UE4 despite there was a lot of rumors that it's "heavy" or requires an AAA team. And suddenly it clicked, everything works as I expecting, UI is clear and much more powerfull, no need to build custom tools to work on the game itself. Blueprints are very helpful for beginners, C++ has a lot of "syntax-sugar" - macroses, a lot of convenient in-engine types for everything. Later while working with Unreal, I've realized it has very consistent roadmap with constant improvements and adding new features. At the same time, each major version update is painless so you can upgrade your project during development to get new features. UE4 is free to use with the full list of features and you only have to pay royalty after getting your first $1 million from the project (and that's just the default case, you can always discuss custom license with an upfront fee, if you want to).
I chose Unity over Unreal Engine because Unity has a more user friendly UI for beginners looking to learn game development. Additionally, as someone who uses a lot of online resources to learn new languages and tools, I found a lot of tutorials covering game development with Unity as the core engine. This doesn't mean Unreal is not a great choice for game development, I just personally found learning game development much smoother with the amount of resources available with Unity.
Pros of BabylonJS
Pros of Unity
- Because it's a powerful engine, you can build anything17
- C# language15
- Very Popular12
- Easy to Use8
- Cross Platform7
- He Has A Free VErsion6
- 2nd Game Engine In The World5
- Good Choise4
- Very Large Showcase4
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Cons of BabylonJS
Cons of Unity
- Hard to get started with4
- Clunky UI4
- Closed source4
- No consistency with updates3
- Requires to build a lot of tools3
- Gigantic by being 9gb (thats what setup says)2