What is igl?

Igl (or igl) typically refers to a C++ library for geometry processing. It's a widely used open-source library focused on providing implementations of common algorithms and data structures needed for manipulating and processing 3D geometric data.

Igl offers functionalities in areas like:

• Mesh Processing: This includes functions for mesh simplification, remeshing, smoothing, and repair.

• Finite Element Analysis (FEA): igl provides tools for setting up and solving linear systems arising in FEA.

• Shape Analysis: Includes functionalities for computing curvature, normals, and other shape descriptors.

• Parameterization: igl provides algorithms for mapping 3D surfaces to 2D domains, often used for texture mapping or mesh editing.

• Deformation: Includes tools for mesh deformation using techniques like as-rigid-as-possible (ARAP) deformation.

• Collision Detection: Offers basic collision detection routines.

Igl emphasizes ease of use and integration. It is designed to be header-only, meaning you don't need to compile or link against any external libraries (beyond standard C++ libraries and common math libraries like Eigen). This makes it very convenient to include in your projects.

The library is actively developed and maintained and has a strong community support. It's a staple in both academic research and industrial applications dealing with 3D geometry.