tcantenot

tcantenot / bento

Public

A simple flexbox layout C library

10
1
85% credibility
Found May 17, 2026 at 11 stars -- GitGems finds repos before they trend. Get early access to the next one.
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AI Analysis
C
AI Summary

Bento is a small library that helps developers arrange UI panels in a tree structure, similar to how Flexbox works on websites. It handles the math of figuring out where each panel goes and how big it should be, automatically adjusting when the window changes size. Developers can create simple fixed layouts or add draggable dividers that let users resize panels by hand. The library is designed to be lightweight—just one file to add to a project—with no complicated setup or external dependencies.

How It Works

1
🔍 Discover Bento

You find Bento while searching for a simple way to arrange UI panels that automatically adjust to available space.

2
📄 Add to your project

You drop the single header file into your project and you're ready to go—no extra files or setup required.

3
🌳 Build your layout tree

You arrange your UI elements as a hierarchy—panels inside panels, like building blocks stacked together.

4
⚙️ Set sizing rules

You tell each element how to behave: some stay a fixed size, some stretch to fill space, some shrink when room gets tight.

5
Choose your layout style
✋
Add draggable dividers

Users can grab a handle between panels and resize them however they like.

🔒
Keep panels fixed

Your layout stays exactly as you designed it—no user adjustments needed.

6
📐 Calculate positions

Each frame, Bento figures out exactly where every panel goes and how big it should be.

✨ Your UI comes to life

Everything renders perfectly—panels line up, gaps are even, and resizable dividers work smoothly.

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AI-Generated Review

What is bento?

Bento is a lightweight Flexbox layout library for C that helps you build responsive UI panels and containers. It gives you a tree-based system where you define elements with sizing policies -- fixed pixels, percentages, or auto-wrap -- and the library handles the math for distributing space underflow and overflow. Think of it as a manual layout engine for game UIs, embedded interfaces, or anything where you want CSS Flexbox behavior without a full framework. The library is single-header, C99 compatible, and allocates nothing at runtime.

Why is it gaining traction?

The splitter support is the headline feature -- you get draggable resize handles between panels with zero additional work. The grow and shrink weight system handles resizing intuitively, and the grid snapping prevents the border shimmer that plagues naive implementations. Unlike heavier alternatives, this is a practical tool that stays out of your way: one header, no dependencies, and you control the element storage directly.

Who should use this?

Game developers building HUDs or editor panels, embedded UI developers, anyone writing custom UI in C or C++ without a full framework. If you want a lightweight flexbox that handles the boring resize math for you, this is for you. Frontend devs prototyping native UIs will also find the API familiar.

Verdict

At 10 stars with only a header file and a README for documentation, this is a young project with a credibility score of 0.85%. The code is clean and readable, but tests are absent from the visible repo. It fills a real gap for C developers wanting CSS flexbox-style layouts, and the splitter feature alone justifies evaluation. Consider it solid for experimentation or production use if you value minimal dependencies over extensive community support.

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