head to head · open source
libgdx vs Pumpkin
libgdx has 25,405 GitHub stars, 6,526 forks, 337 open issues and last shipped 11 days ago. Pumpkin has 11,292 stars, 813 forks, 452 open issues and last shipped yesterday. libgdx leads on adoption by 125% (25,405 vs 11,292 stars). libgdx is written in Java under Apache-2.0; Pumpkin is written in Rust under GPL-3.0. libgdx has attracted 26% as many forks as stars, Pumpkin 7%. Pumpkin was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (gamedev), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| libgdx | Pumpkin | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 25K | ★ 11K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Java | Rust |
| Last push | 2026-09-09 | 2026-09-19 |
| Forks | ⑂ 6.5K | ⑂ 813 |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick libgdx if
- You weight community size — 25K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Java
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Pumpkin if
- You want the Pumpkin feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Rust
- You evaluated both and Pumpkin fits your workflow better
About libgdx
libGDX is a cross platform Java game development framework built on OpenGL (ES) that renders 2D and 3D games for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, web browsers, and iOS, aimed at Java developers who want one codebase and no imposed design or coding style.
read the full libgdx overview →
About Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a Minecraft server implementation written entirely in Rust that aims to let anyone host fast and efficient Java and Bedrock Edition servers, and it is built for server operators and plugin developers who want vanilla compatible gameplay without the official Java server.
read the full Pumpkin overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is libgdx or Pumpkin more popular?
libgdx has 25,405 GitHub stars and Pumpkin has 11,292. libgdx has the larger community by that measure.
Are libgdx and Pumpkin free?
Both are open source. libgdx is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Pumpkin under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between libgdx and Pumpkin?
libgdx is written in Java and Pumpkin in Rust. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, libgdx or Pumpkin?
Choose libgdx if you want the larger community (25,405 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose Pumpkin if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.