Platform Support

CNA platform targets — current status and roadmap

Platform matrix

Platform	Architecture	Compiler(s)	Backend(s)	Status
Linux	x86_64	GCC 12+, Clang 15+	EASYGL, SDL_RENDERER	Supported
Windows	x86_64	MSVC 2022	SDL_RENDERER	Planned
Windows	x86_64	clang-cl	SDL_RENDERER	Planned
Windows	x86_64	MinGW-w64	SDL_RENDERER	Planned
Linux → Windows	x86_64	MinGW-w64 (cross)	SDL_RENDERER	Planned
Android	ARM64, x86_64	Android NDK	SDL_RENDERER	Planned
Web (Emscripten)	WASM	Emscripten	SDL_RENDERER	Planned

Linux (x86_64)

Linux is the primary development platform for CNA. Both GCC 12+ and Clang 15+ are supported. The EASYGL and SDL_RENDERER backends are both validated here.

SDL3, SDL3_image, and SDL3_mixer are built from vendored submodules — no system SDL packages required. The sharp-runtime and optionally easy-gl dependencies must be present as sibling directories.

See Building for the exact commands.

Windows (x86_64)

Windows support targets the SDL_RENDERER backend with three supported toolchains:

MSVC 2022 — Visual Studio 2022 v17.8+ with C++20/23 support. Open the project in Visual Studio or build from a Developer Command Prompt.
clang-cl — LLVM for Windows targeting the MSVC ABI.
MinGW-w64 — Either natively on Windows or cross-compiled from Linux.

SDL3 is built from vendored submodules on Windows — no pre-built SDL binaries or CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH configuration is needed. Windows validation is planned (see Roadmap).

Android

Android is an architectural target. SDL3 supports Android natively through its JNI/Activity layer. CNA's backend abstraction is designed to accommodate Android as a platform.

What is needed to reach Android support:

CMake toolchain configuration for the Android NDK
SDL3 Android build validation
CNA platform layer adaptation for Android lifecycle events
Validation of the SDL_RENDERER backend on Android hardware

Android builds are a planned Phase 2 milestone. See the Roadmap for context.

Emscripten / WebAssembly

Web builds via Emscripten are architecturally possible. SDL3 has Emscripten support. Building CNA to WebAssembly would enable browser-based demos and web distribution of CNA-based games.

What is needed to reach Emscripten support:

CMake toolchain configuration for Emscripten
SDL3 Emscripten build validation
CNA game loop adaptation for Emscripten's emscripten_set_main_loop model
Asset loading adaptation for web (fetch-based or bundled)

Emscripten is a planned Phase 2 milestone. See the Roadmap for context.

macOS

macOS is not currently a stated target, but SDL3 supports it. If the community expresses interest and a contributor is willing to validate and maintain it, macOS could be added as a target. It is not in the current roadmap.