dnadlinger/d4 — explained in plain English
Analysis updated 2026-07-17 · repo last pushed 2010-12-04
Drag and drop a 3D model file onto the demo to explore how rasterization renders it in real time.
Study the D source code to understand how 3D shapes get converted into 2D pixels on a CPU.
Use it as an example project for learning the D programming language.
Rotate and move around loaded 3D models with keyboard controls to see live rendering.
| dnadlinger/d4 | efforg/trackerlab | agentzh/usdt-sample | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stars | 10 | 11 | 5 |
| Language | D | D | D |
| Last pushed | 2010-12-04 | 2013-08-02 | 2024-01-30 |
| Maintenance | Dormant | Dormant | Dormant |
| Setup difficulty | moderate | hard | hard |
| Complexity | 3/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Audience | developer | developer | ops devops |
Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.
Requires a D compiler and native libraries (Assimp, DevIL, SDL) installed.
D4 is a 3D graphics program that draws objects on your screen by converting 3D models into 2D images, a process called rasterization. Instead of using a graphics card (GPU), it does all the work on your regular computer processor (CPU), making it simple to understand and tinker with. It's designed as a learning tool rather than something you'd use for serious work. The project includes two interactive demos that let you load and explore 3D models. You can drag and drop model files onto the program, or use command-line options to control it. Once loaded, you can rotate and move around the model using your keyboard, WSAD keys for movement and arrow keys for rotation, plus some extra controls mapped to nearby keys. The program renders the 3D scene in real-time as you interact with it. Someone learning computer graphics or wanting to understand how 3D graphics work from the ground up would find this useful. It's small and readable enough to study the actual code and see how shapes get transformed into pixels on screen. A hobbyist interested in the D programming language might also use it as an example project. However, this isn't meant for production use or handling complex modern 3D models, it's purely for education and experimentation. The project is written in D, a programming language designed to be practical and efficient while staying readable. It relies on a few established libraries for the heavy lifting: Assimp for loading 3D model files, DevIL for image handling, SDL for window management, and Derelict as a binding layer. The README points to an external website for more details, and the code itself is open source under the GPLv3 license.
A CPU-based 3D graphics renderer written in D that lets you load and explore 3D models interactively, built as a learning tool.
Mainly D. The stack also includes D, Assimp, DevIL.
Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2010-12-04).
GPLv3, you can use and modify the code, but any distributed derivative work must also be open source under GPLv3.
Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.
Mainly developer.
This repo across BitVibe Labs
double-check against the repo, no cap.