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Embed immediate-mode controls in C++ applications to build tools quickly

OSS scale score 340.1OSS health 92Update pace 66 commits/30d
About these scores

OSS scale score is an unbounded metric that log-compresses and weights Stars, Watchers, Forks, and Contributors. Discovery score is the current OSS scale score minus the score at discovery. Update pace is commits in the last 30 days, growth momentum is the OSS scale score difference within the recent observation window, and OSS health is a 0–100 rating based on available recency, Community Health, and release data.

Stars
76,495
Primary language
C++
License
MIT
Repository last updated
Oct 5, 2026
On this page

Overview

Dear ImGui is a lightweight GUI library for placing interactive controls directly in a C++ application rendering loop. Its immediate-mode model rebuilds UI state every frame, helping teams create game-engine diagnostics, editors, and visualization controls with few dependencies.

Features and best fit

Based on official documentation; not hands-on tested · Content checked:

Key features

Build controls from application state each frame

Buttons, tables, trees, docking, and other widgets expose variables and diagnostics directly from C++ code. The immediate-mode model supports rapid iteration on developer tools without maintaining a separate retained UI description. Docking and Multi-Viewport require the docking branch and are not included in this pinned v1.92.9b guide.

Sources: [1]

Connect to an existing renderer and input platform

Applications combine the core library with a platform backend such as SDL2 and a renderer backend for OpenGL, DirectX, Vulkan, or Metal. Official examples show initialization and frame processing for supported pairs.

Sources: [2][4]

Best fit

Use it for internal game and native-tool interfaces

It fits profilers, scene editors, asset inspection, and other developer-facing controls embedded in an existing application. It is not a complete desktop application framework and does not provide windowing or rendering by itself.

Sources: [1][2]

Before adoption

Select dependencies for the chosen backend pair

The Linux SDL2 and OpenGL3 example needs a C++ compiler, make, SDL2 development files, OpenGL libraries, and a working display. Production integration must adapt input, multiple viewports, high DPI, fonts, and graphics-state preservation to the host engine.

Sources: [3][4]

Separate the example from product UI responsibilities

The example is a small integration executable, not a finished product interface. Accessibility, localization, persistence, and user workflows remain application responsibilities. The core and official backends use the MIT License.

Sources: [2][5]

Official sources

  1. [1]Dear ImGui README at v1.92.9b(2026-10-05)
  2. [2]Dear ImGui example applications guide at v1.92.9b(2026-10-05)
  3. [3]Dear ImGui SDL2 and OpenGL3 example Makefile at v1.92.9b(2026-10-05)
  4. [4]Dear ImGui Getting Started Wiki (checked 2026-10-05)(2026-10-05)
  5. [5]Dear ImGui LICENSE at v1.92.9b(2026-10-05)
  6. [6]Dear ImGui v1.92.9b release(2026-10-05)
Supplemental curator note

Evaluate how cleanly it connects to the existing rendering loop and input stack rather than comparing widget counts alone. After the official example, test graphics-state and input handoff in a small host-engine integration.

Try it in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Fetch the pinned SDL2 and OpenGL3 example

    Enter the fixed official example containing Dear ImGui core plus the SDL2 platform and OpenGL3 renderer backends.

    git clone --branch v1.92.9b --depth 1 https://github.com/ocornut/imgui.git imgui-demo && cd imgui-demo/examples/example_sdl2_opengl3
  2. 2

    Build the official example

    On Linux, use a C++ compiler, make, pkg-config, SDL2 development files, and OpenGL development libraries to build the integration example.

    make -j2
  3. 3

    Inspect the demo on a display

    Run it in an OpenGL-capable display session and inspect the official widgets and interactions. Close the window or press Ctrl-C to exit.

    ./example_sdl2_opengl3
Check the official README

Growth

Growth trends · Last 30 days

76,495 Stars

Trend data is still being collected.

Development activity

Last 90 days · weekly

Commits (last 30 days)
66
Open PRs
187
Issues opened
56
Issues closed
71
PRs opened
50
PRs merged
4

Issues

56 / 71

Jul 8Oct 5
Issues openedIssues closed

Pull requests

50 / 4

Jul 8Oct 5
PRs openedPRs merged

Maintenance

Median first response
10 hr
Issue response rate
86.8% (46/53)

Based on up to the 100 newest issues opened by external users in the last 90 days. A first comment from an OWNER, MEMBER, or COLLABORATOR counts as a response; issues whose full comment history cannot be checked are excluded. The median and response rate update weekly.

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GitHub data

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GitHub Topics

  • gui
  • gamedev
  • tools
  • ui
  • toolkit
  • native
  • imgui
  • api
  • cplusplus
  • framework
  • library
  • game-development
Stars
76,495
Forks
12,072
Watchers
1,101
Open issues
1,039
Contributors
428
Owner type
User
Primary language
C++
License
MIT
Repository last updated
Oct 5, 2026
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