SimGear is a group of libraries

Library (computer science)

In computer science, a library is a collection of resources used to develop software. These may include pre-written code and subroutines, classes, values or type specifications....

, which provide capabilities useful for simulations

Computer simulation

A computer simulation, a computer model, or a computational model is a computer program, or network of computers, that attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular system...

, visualizations

Visualization (graphic)

Visualization is any technique for creating images, diagrams, or animations to communicate a message. Visualization through visual imagery has been an effective way to communicate both abstract and concrete ideas since the dawn of man...

, and even games building

Game programming

Game programming, a subset of game development, is the programming of computer, console or arcade games. Though often engaged in by professional game programmers, many novices may program games as a hobby...

.

SimGear is a relatively new project, and while quite a bit of code has been written in conjunction with the FlightGear

FlightGear

FlightGear Flight Simulator is a free, open-source multi-platform flight simulator developed by the FlightGear project since 1997....

 project, the final interface and arrangements are still evolving.

All the SimGear code is designed to be portable across a wide variety of platforms

Platform (computing)

A computing platform includes some sort of hardware architecture and a software framework , where the combination allows software, particularly application software, to run...

 and compiler

Compiler

A compiler is a computer program that transforms source code written in a programming language into another computer language...

s. Originally, it has been developed in support of the FlightGear project, but as development moved forward, it has become useful for other types of applications as well.

SimGear is free software

Free software

Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...

, licenced under the terms of the GNU LGPL.