The API provided by the framework gives access to the video and sound functions of the host machine through the
librariesSDL and
OpenGL, or since version 0.10 also
OpenGL ES 2 and 3.[3] Fonts can be rendered by the
FreeType engine.[4] A version of the framework called piLöve has been specifically ported to
Raspberry Pi.[5]
The framework is frequently found in the compositions of video game development
competitions, such as the game development competition
Ludum Dare.[6] In July 2018, it was the 10th most popular game development software used by independent game developers on the site
Itch.io,[7] holding a 1.97% share.
There are various libraries and forks of LÖVE to improve basic functions, such as
OOP with
inheritance and overloading, interpolations, cameras, gamestates, etc. This is a small list of some:
The Simple Tiled Implementation library allows users to load levels as tiles, edit using Tiled[32] and display them in games. It works in conjunction with
Box2D for collision management with this decor.[33]
The anim8 library allows users to load animations, for characters for example, from an image grid into a bitmap file (
PNG or
JPEG).[34][35]
LIKO-12 is a free platform inspired by the PICO-8 fantasy console and uses LÖVE. It allows users to develop applications in a limited resolution, backup/restore in the modified PNG format, in the same way as
video game cartridges or some of the first
microcomputers, and export them to
HTML5 or to systems supported by LÖVE.[36]
Lutro is a Lua game framework for
libretro, a partial port of the LÖVE[37] API. ChaiLove follows a similar path by offering an implementation in
ChaiScript, an embedded and cross-platform scripting language for
C++ (C++14).[38]
love.js is a port of LÖVE that aims to make it possible to run LÖVE games on the web via HTML5, WebGL, and Emscripten.[39]
g3d is a 3D engine that simplifies 3D capabilities in LÖVE. It allows for 3D model rendering,
.obj file loading, first person movement and camera controls, perspective and
orthographic projections, 3D collisions and more.[40]