JaxNode January meeting: 3D game development with React

In this engaging meetup presentation, attendees are introduced to the world of 3D game development with React, Three.js, and Rapier. The session begins with a brief overview of each library’s role in the development pipeline. React is highlighted for its declarative approach to managing UI and state, Three.js for rendering 3D graphics in the browser, and Rapier for implementing realistic physics.

The core of the presentation features an interactive live-coding session where attendees learn to create a simple 3D scene using React Three Fiber, a React renderer for Three.js. Step-by-step, the speaker demonstrates how to add and animate objects, set up a camera, handle user input, and use lighting to enhance the scene’s visual appeal. The integration of Rapier Physics is then introduced, showing how to simulate gravity, collisions, and object interactions.

To conclude, the speaker showcases a fully functional game built with these tools, walking the audience through its architecture and key components. This demo illustrates how the libraries work together to create an immersive gaming experience. Attendees leave with a foundational understanding of building 3D games with React and inspiration to start their own projects.

Bio on speaker:
Matt Black is a dedicated software engineer with 10 years of experience in web, mobile, and 3D application development. He enjoys working across the full stack, designing cloud solutions, and improving performance through thoughtful optimization. Matt has experience in IT leadership, feature development & debugging, upgrading dependencies, and navigating tech migrations. He values collaboration with cross-functional teams to create applications that meet user needs and deliver great experiences. Passionate about learning and sharing knowledge, he also contributes to training and development in the tech community.