{"categories":[{"label":"Scientific/Engineering","url":"https://skillfed.io/packages/category/scientific-engineering/4"}],"enrichment":{"capability":"libcoal provides Python bindings for collision detection and distance computation between 3D geometric objects using optimized GJK and EPA algorithms.","skillfed_tags":["collision-detection","robotics","geometry"],"use_cases":["Motion planning for robotic systems: check collisions between links and obstacles during trajectory generation.","Physics simulation: detect contacts and compute distances between rigid bodies in a dynamics engine.","Mesh collision queries: load convex hulls from OBJ/STL/DAE files and perform fast collision detection with other objects.","Safety margin enforcement: maintain minimum distance constraints between objects in real-time control loops.","Contact analysis: compute contact points and patches between colliding geometries for force feedback or constraint solving."],"what_it_does":"libcoal is a Python interface to a modern collision detection and distance computation library that evolved from the Flexible Collision Library (FCL). It provides efficient implementations of the GJK and EPA algorithms for narrow-phase collision detection, along with support for safety margins, contact point computation, and a variety of geometric primitives (boxes, spheres, capsules, ellipsoids, convex meshes, height fields, octrees). The library is designed for robotics and physics simulation where fast, reliable collision checking is critical.\n\nThe package wraps a C++ core with compiled dependencies on cmeel-boost, cmeel-assimp, cmeel-octomap, and cmeel-qhull, making installation straightforward on supported platforms (macOS and Linux) but requiring binary wheels. It is actively maintained and used in production robotics frameworks for motion planning and dynamics simulation.","worth_installing":"Yes, if you need collision detection in a robotics or physics simulation context on macOS or Linux. The library is actively maintained, permissively licensed (BSD-3-Clause), and offers state-of-the-art performance via optimized GJK algorithms. Install friction is moderate due to compiled dependencies, but binary wheels are available for common platforms. No known vulnerabilities."},"id":"libcoal","links":{"html":"https://skillfed.io/packages/libcoal","md":"https://skillfed.io/packages/libcoal.md","pypi":"https://pypi.org/project/libcoal/"},"maintenance":{"status":"active"},"meta":{"latest_release":"2026-05-21","license_spdx":"BSD-3-Clause","license_treatment":"permissive","name":"libcoal","python_support":"supports_current","summary":"An extension of the Flexible Collision Library"},"popularity":{"monthly_downloads":548509,"position":6061,"tier":"top_15000"},"security":{"n_vulnerabilities":0},"version":"3.0.3"}