Raqm is a small library that encapsulates the logic for complex text layout and provides a convenient API.

It currently provides bidirectional text support (using FriBiDi or SheenBidi), shaping (using HarfBuzz), and proper script itemization. As a result, Raqm can support most writing systems covered by Unicode.

The documentation can be accessed on the web at:

https://host-oman.github.io/libraqm/

Raqm (Arabic: رَقْم) is writing, also number or digit and the Arabic word for digital (رَقَمِيّ) shares the same root, so it is a play on “digital writing”.

Raqm depends on the following libraries:

• FreeType
• HarfBuzz
• FriBiDi or SheenBidi

To build the documentation you will also need:

• GTK-Doc

To install dependencies on Fedora:

sudo dnf install freetype-devel harfbuzz-devel fribidi-devel meson gtk-doc

To install dependencies on Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install libfreetype6-dev libharfbuzz-dev libfribidi-dev meson gtk-doc-tools

On Mac OS X you can use Homebrew:

brew install freetype harfbuzz fribidi meson gtk-doc
export XML_CATALOG_FILES="/usr/local/etc/xml/catalog" # for the docs

Once you have the source code and the dependencies, you can proceed to build. To do that, run the customary sequence of commands in the source code directory:

$ meson build
$ ninja -C build
$ ninja -C build install

To build the documentation, pass -Ddocs=true to the meson.

To run the tests:

$ ninja -C build test

Once you have made a change that you are happy with, contribute it back, we’ll be happy to integrate it! Just fork the repository and make a pull request.

1. ImageMagick
2. LibGD
3. FontView
4. Pillow
5. mplcairo
6. CEGUI

The following projects have patches to support complex text layout using Raqm:

2. SDL_ttf: https://bugzilla.libsdl.org/show_bug.cgi?id=3211
3. Pygame: https://bitbucket.org/pygame/pygame/pull-requests/52
4. Blender: https://developer.blender.org/D1809