CarWorld is a small open-source 3D driving simulator and vehicle-mechanics demonstration. It was originally developed as a student project and later used to experiment with rendering, input, networking, and vehicle simulation.
CarWorld is a historical project that is being restored and modernized. The original SourceForge repository, website, release history, and available packages have been preserved on GitHub.
The project now uses CMake and a vcpkg dependency manifest. A 64-bit Windows Debug build has been verified with the MSVC 19.51 compiler supplied by Visual Studio 2026.
- Classical-mechanics vehicle simulation using metric units
- Configurable mass, inertia, suspension, damping, torque, and friction
- OpenGL rendering with textured models and projected shadows
- SDL-based windowing, input, image loading, joystick, and force-feedback support
- Interactive in-game console
- Experimental networked client/server mode using SDL3_net
- Linux and Windows project files
The source currently references:
- A C++ compiler
- SDL3
- SDL3_image
- SDL3_net
- OpenGL and GLU
The dependencies are acquired automatically through the repository's
vcpkg.json manifest. OpenGL and GLU are provided by the target
platform and located by CMake.
Install Visual Studio 2026 Community with the Desktop development with C++ workload. Ensure its CMake tools, Windows SDK, and Git components are selected.
Install vcpkg in a stable location and bootstrap it:
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/vcpkg.git C:\Development\vcpkg
C:\Development\vcpkg\bootstrap-vcpkg.bat
$env:VCPKG_ROOT = "C:\Development\vcpkg"To make VCPKG_ROOT available in future terminals, add it as a Windows user
environment variable. Do not commit a machine-specific vcpkg path to the
repository.
Open the repository folder in Visual Studio. Visual Studio will detect
CMakePresets.json; select Windows x64 — Visual Studio
2026, then choose either the Debug or Release build preset. During the first
configuration, vcpkg downloads and builds SDL3, SDL3_image, SDL3_net, and their
transitive dependencies.
The equivalent command-line workflow from a Visual Studio developer PowerShell is:
cmake --preset windows-vs2026
cmake --build --preset windows-debugThe build copies the data/ directory next to carworld.exe, allowing the
program to find its runtime assets when launched from the build output.
The Windows Debug configuration has been compiled successfully with Visual Studio 2026. Runtime behavior still needs broader testing; the original packages remain available from GitHub Releases.
CarWorld expects to be started from the root of its distribution so it can find
the files under data/.
Historical controls:
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| Arrow keys | Control the vehicle |
| Space | Handbrake |
| Tab | Open the in-game console |
| F2 | Change camera |
| F3 | Reset the vehicle |
| F4 | Use the physical joystick or steering wheel |
| F5 | Use keyboard controls |
The application uses carworld.cfg as its historical configuration filename.
When a physical input device is selected, CarWorld enables its continuous
constant-force effect when SDL reports compatible haptic support. Detection or
runtime errors are written to the application log.
Network play uses SDL3_net datagram sockets and is enabled by default. It can
be omitted by configuring CMake with
-DCARWORLD_ENABLE_NETWORKING=OFF.
Start a server on the default UDP port (12000) with:
carworld -server
An alternate port can be supplied after -server. A running client can connect
from the in-game console:
join <server-name> [port]
Networking retains the historical native-structure protocol, so peers should use the same CarWorld build and CPU architecture.
The original SourceForge project remains available as a read-only historical archive.
Bug reports, build fixes, portability work, documentation improvements, and tested platform instructions are welcome. See CONTRIBUTING.md before submitting a change.
CarWorld is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3. See LICENSE.