# switchbrew/libnx

Library for Switch Homebrew

Repository: https://github.com/switchbrew/libnx
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/libnx
Homepage: https://switchbrew.github.io/libnx/
Language: C
License: ISC
License Family: permissive
Topics: nintendo, switch, nx, libnx, devkitpro, homebrew, development, c, aarch64, arm64, horizon-os
Last push: 2026-05-04T19:14:27+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 72/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:39:23.370411+00:00)
- activity 80, release rhythm 45, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3273, "days_push": 121, "days_rel": 211, "gap_med": 121.5, "n_releases_24m": 5}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1450, forks 195 (observed 2026-08-28T04:04:45.884595+00:00)

## What it is
libnx is an AArch64-only userland library for developing Nintendo Switch homebrew software, based on libctru. It provides C APIs for interacting with the Switch's Horizon OS system services when building with devkitPro toolchains.

## Use cases
- write homebrew apps for the Nintendo Switch
- develop custom home menu replacements on Switch
- access Switch system services from C code
- build Switch homebrew games and tools
- reverse-engineer Horizon OS APIs for homebrew

## When to choose
- you are writing Nintendo Switch homebrew in C
- you need low-level access to Horizon OS system calls and services
- you use the devkitPro/devkitA64 toolchain

## When to avoid
- you are developing official licensed Switch software with Nintendo SDKs
- you target other consoles or platforms
- you want a high-level game engine rather than a system library

## Facets
- artifact type: library
- maturity: active
- function: sdk, developer-tools
- domain: embedded-systems, developer-tools
- platform: cross-platform, c
- tags: nintendo-switch, homebrew, horizon-os, aarch64, devkitpro, libctru, game-development

## Member repositories
- switchbrew/libnx (main) score 72

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:45.884595+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T04:35:57.650677+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/switchbrew/libnx (fetched 2026-08-28T04:04:45.884595+00:00, sha c58e0e7ac16a)
  - homepage: https://switchbrew.github.io/libnx/ (fetched 2026-08-29T11:45:28.706583+00:00, sha 6d36357ac118)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.