Custom Physics Engine vs Bullet Physics

Developers should learn or use a custom physics engine when building applications with demanding performance needs, unique physics behaviors, or when existing engines like Unity Physics or Havok are too generic, costly, or restrictive meets developers should learn bullet physics when building applications that require realistic physics simulations, such as game engines, simulation software, or robotics platforms. Here's our take.

Custom Physics Engine

Nice Pick

Developers should learn or use a custom physics engine when building applications with demanding performance needs, unique physics behaviors, or when existing engines like Unity Physics or Havok are too generic, costly, or restrictive

Pros

• It's essential for game development studios aiming for high-fidelity simulations, robotics software requiring custom collision handling, or research projects where physics accuracy is critical
• Related to: c-plus-plus, game-development

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Bullet Physics

Developers should learn Bullet Physics when building applications that require realistic physics simulations, such as game engines, simulation software, or robotics platforms

Pros

• It is particularly valuable for projects needing efficient collision detection, rigid body dynamics, or complex physical interactions in real-time environments, offering cross-platform support and integration with popular graphics APIs
• Related to: game-development, physics-simulation

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Custom Physics Engine is a tool while Bullet Physics is a library. We picked Custom Physics Engine based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Custom Physics Engine wins

Based on overall popularity. Custom Physics Engine is more widely used, but Bullet Physics excels in its own space.