LVGL
A free C library for drawing graphical user interfaces on small microcontrollers and embedded screens.
- Stars
- 25.1k
- Forks
- 4.4k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- C
- Last update
- 4 days ago
- Type
- Library
What it is
LVGL is an open-source C library for building graphical user interfaces on embedded devices, from small microcontrollers to larger Linux-based processors. It provides ready-made widgets such as buttons, sliders and charts, plus styling, layout and rendering tools, and it has no external dependencies. It is used by chip vendors, RTOS projects and board makers, and it is released under the MIT license.
- Build a touchscreen control panel for a small appliance running on a microcontroller
- Create an e-ink or OLED status display with labels and simple graphics
- Show a 3D glTF model or vector graphics on a Linux-based device
- Prototype a screen layout on a PC using the simulator before moving to hardware
Great for
- Engineers adding a touchscreen or display UI to an embedded device
- Hobbyists building a UI on boards like ESP32 or similar microcontrollers
- Teams that need a UI library that works across many chip vendors and RTOSes
- Projects with tight memory limits that still want a full widget set
- Developers who want to prototype a UI on a PC simulator before hardware is ready
Not ideal for
- Plain web or desktop app developers, since LVGL targets embedded C displays rather than browsers or typical desktop software
- Projects with no C or C++ experience, because the main workflow is writing C code, though the paid LVGL Pro tool can generate C from XML
- Anyone needing a UI for a device with very little memory, since the README says a typical UI needs about 100kB RAM and 200-300kB flash
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: A C compiler toolchain for your target board · Make or CMake, or an existing project for your device
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/lvgl/lvgl - 2
Run it
- Clone the repository or add LVGL through your board vendor's package manager or RTOS component
- Add LVGL to your project using Make, CMake, or the globbing approach described in the docs
- Configure your display and input driver as described in the LVGL docs
- Create a screen with a widget such as a button and a label, then compile and run it
- Optionally open the LVGL Pro Online Viewer or Simulator to preview UIs without hardware
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use the PC Simulator project from the docs to test layouts before flashing hardware
- Use the Flexbox and Grid layout engines to make screens resize responsively
- Explore the 100+ C and XML examples at lvgl.io/docs/open/examples
- Try LVGL Pro's Figma plugin to move designs into code, if you work with Figma
- Use the LVGL Pro CLI to generate C code and run tests in CI/CD
Downloads
Strengths
- Free and open-source under the MIT license, usable in commercial projects
- No external dependencies and portable across many chips, RTOSes and display types
- Large widget, style and layout set, with more than 100 examples in the docs
Trade-offs
- Writing UIs in C takes more effort than drag-and-drop tools; the README points to the paid-tier LVGL Pro editor as an easier route
- Requires a certain amount of RAM and flash, so very small devices may not fit a typical UI
- The README does not detail every platform's setup, so you will need the docs for your specific board
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lvgl (this) | 25.1k | Library | intermediate | 4 days ago | Engineers adding a touchscreen or display UI to an embedded device |
| DearPyGui | 15.7k | Library | beginner | 18 days ago | Python developers who want a desktop GUI for a script or internal tool |
| webview | 14.3k | Library | intermediate | 15 days ago | C or C++ developers who want an HTML-based GUI without bundling a full browser framework |
| polybar | 15.4k | App | intermediate | 1.1 years ago | Linux users who run a tiling window manager such as i3 or bspwm |
| awesome-cpp | 74.2k | Curated list | beginner | 6 days ago | C++ developers looking for a library for a specific task |
| vcpkg | 27.6k | Dev tool | intermediate | 4 days ago | C and C++ developers who need third-party libraries in their projects |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.