How do I use these libraries?
The idea behind single-header file libraries is that they’re easy to distribute and deploy because all the code is contained in a single file. By default, the .h files in here act as their own header files, i.e. they declare the functions contained in the file but don’t actually result in any code getting compiled.
So in addition, you should select exactly one C/C++ source file that actually instantiates the code, preferably a file you’re not editing frequently. This file should define a specific macro (this is documented per-library) to actually enable the function definitions. For example, to use stb_image, you should have exactly one C/C++ file that doesn’t include stb_image.h regularly, but instead does
#define STB_IMAGE_IMPLEMENTATION
#include "stb_image.h"
The right macro to define is pointed out right at the top of each of these libraries.
Are there other single-file public-domain/open source libraries with minimal dependencies out there?
Some of these libraries seem redundant to existing open source libraries. Are they better somehow?
Generally they’re only better in that they’re easier to integrate, easier to use, and easier to release (single file; good API; no attribution requirement). They may be less featureful, slower, and/or use more memory. If you’re already using an equivalent library, there’s probably no good reason to switch.
Can I link directly to the table of stb libraries?
You can use this URL to link directly to that list.
Why do you list “lines of code”? It’s a terrible metric.
Just to give you some idea of the internal complexity of the library, to help you manage your expectations, or to let you know what you’re getting into. While not all the libraries are written in the same style, they’re certainly similar styles, and so comparisons between the libraries are probably still meaningful.
Note though that the lines do include both the implementation, the part that corresponds to a header file, and the documentation.
Why single-file headers?
Windows doesn’t have standard directories where libraries live. That makes deploying libraries in Windows a lot more painful than open source developers on Unix-derivates generally realize. (It also makes library dependencies a lot worse in Windows.)
There’s also a common problem in Windows where a library was built against a different version of the runtime library, which causes link conflicts and confusion. Shipping the libs as headers means you normally just compile them straight into your project without making libraries, thus sidestepping that problem.
Making them a single file makes it very easy to just drop them into a project that needs them. (Of course you can still put them in a proper shared library tree if you want.)
Why not two files, one a header and one an implementation? The difference between 10 files and 9 files is not a big deal, but the difference between 2 files and 1 file is a big deal. You don’t need to zip or tar the files up, you don’t have to remember to attach two files, etc.
Why “stb”? Is this something to do with Set-Top Boxes?
No, they are just the initials for my name, Sean T. Barrett. This was not chosen out of egomania, but as a moderately sane way of namespacing the filenames and source function names.
Will you add more image types to stb_image.h?
No. As stb_image use has grown, it has become more important for us to focus on security of the codebase. Adding new image formats increases the amount of code we need to secure, so it is no longer worth adding new formats.
Do you have any advice on how to create my own single-file library?
Yes. https://github.com/nothings/stb/blob/master/docs/stb_howto.txt
Why public domain?
I prefer it over GPL, LGPL, BSD, zlib, etc. for many reasons. Some of them are listed here: https://github.com/nothings/stb/blob/master/docs/why_public_domain.md
Why C?
Primarily, because I use C, not C++. But it does also make it easier for other people to use them from other languages.
Why not C99? stdint.h, declare-anywhere, etc.
I still use MSVC 6 (1998) as my IDE because it has better human factors for me than later versions of MSVC.