Hysen Labsstb
stb single-file public domain libraries for C/C++
stb, the single header libraries in the public domain
stb is a set of single file libraries for C and C++ that sit in the public domain, covering images, fonts, audio, and typesafe containers.
The single file idea
The README explains the point of single header libraries: all the code lives in one file, so distribution and deployment are trivial. Each .h acts as its own header by default, and you select one C or C++ source file to define a macro that instantiates the actual code.
What the table lists
A table shows each library with its latest version, category, lines of code, and a description. stb image loads JPG, PNG, TGA, BMP, PSD, GIF, HDR, and PIC from file or memory, stb truetype rasterizes TrueType fonts, and stb vorbis decodes Ogg Vorbis to float or 16 bit output.
Licensing
The libraries are in the public domain, with no legal obligation to do anything else, though attribution is appreciated. For anyone whose lawyers dislike public domain, every source file carries an explicit MIT license as an alternative dual license.
Security discussed in public
The project says it discusses security relevant bugs in public on GitHub issues and pull requests. The README also notes that stb image stopped adding new image formats because each one grows the amount of code that needs to be secured.
The name
stb is simply the initials of Sean T. Barrett, chosen as a sane way to namespace filenames and function names rather than out of ego. GitHub lists C as the primary language and a homepage at nothings.org.
Editorial conclusion
The collection earns its reputation by being easy to drop into a project, and this review only repeats what the README says about the libraries, their licensing, and their author.
Community notes