API

Multiple Platforms

Babylon.js can be used to build experiences on many different platforms for all kinds of devices, and even provides ways to target multiple platforms simultaneously! So, what are you making?

Web App

The Web is Babylon's native habitat, and Babylon.js can be integrated into just about any Web development workflow. Here are just a few of the available recommended ways to build a Web app with Babylon.js.

  • You could use the Template Repository Workflow to develop your Babylon.js experience as a portable NPM package which could then be incorporated into all sorts of other projects.
  • You could build a single-repo project focused specifically on Babylon.js, as exemplified by this repo.
  • You could package and deploy your Web app using Ionic, which will also allow you to target PWA and mobile app platforms. The Fruit Fallin' Dev Story illustrates a way to do this using the Template Repository Workflow.
  • You could incorporate your experience into a larger pre-existing Web app built with technologies like WordPress and React.js. The "Vaporwear" Custom Experience Dev Story illustrates a way to do this using the Template Repository Workflow.

...just to name a few. If you'd like to discuss or have questions about a particular option, we'd love to hear from you on the forum!

Mobile App

There are several excellent ways to ship your Babylon.js experience in a mobile app for Android or iOS. The following are a few of the best:

  • Ionic, as mentioned above, is a great choice for targeting Web, PWA, and mobile platforms at the same time. The Fruit Fallin' Dev Story illustrates a way to do this using the Template Repository Workflow.
  • For React Native developers, Babylon React Native is specifically designed to make it as simple as possible to incorporate Babylon.js functionality directly into your React Native app. It's also possible to embed Web-targeting code into a WebView inside a React Native app.
  • For developers who really need to get down to the metal, Babylon Native supports mobile platforms and allows the use of Babylon.js inside your entirely custom native applications, allowing for complete control of the app's entire technology stack.

If you're considering Babylon Native or Babylon React Native, you might be interested in Babylon Native's own more detailed documentation; and, of course, any and all questions are welcome on the forum.

Desktop App

  • Though it doesn't provide a native target for desktops, Ionic still allows for the creation of apps "installable" on desktops in the form of PWAs, making this an excellent choice if you want to target everything at once. The Fruit Fallin' Dev Story illustrates a way to do this using the Template Repository Workflow.
  • Electron is a great option for natively targeting desktop platforms in a similar way to how Ionic and React Native are great options for mobile platforms. Since Electron uses NPM, it also works well with the Template Repository Workflow.
  • Developers who need full platform access or are trying to integrate Babylon.js into existing native applications may be best served by Babylon Native, which supports all major desktop platforms and gives the developer complete control of the technology stack.

As mentioned above, you might be interested in Babylon Native's own more detailed documentation if you're considering either Babylon Native or Babylon React Native; and, as always, please don't hesitate to bring any questions you have to the forum.

... and More

Of course, this list isn't comprehensive and these aren't the only kinds of apps: there are VR apps, server-side apps, multi-device apps, and so many more possibilities that we could never hope to enumerate them. Cross-platform support is a key objective for Babylon; so no matter which or how many platforms your app needs to run on, we'd love to hear about it and help make sure Babylon provides the tools you need to succeed. Thanks for considering Babylon.js!