whatisgithub

What is ra-port?

dk8827/ra-port — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

157C++Audience · developerComplexity · 4/5LicenseSetup · hard

In one sentence

An unofficial source port that lets you run the original Command and Conquer: Red Alert natively on macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, using your own legally owned game files.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((ra-port))
    What it does
      Runs Red Alert natively
      Uses SDL2 for video audio input
      No game assets included
    Tech stack
      C++
      CMake and Ninja
      Android NDK
      Xcode
    Use cases
      Play campaign and skirmish
      Build Android debug APK
      Build iOS simulator app
    Audience
      Retro game fans
      C++ developers
      Game porting hobbyists

Code map

Detail Auto

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Run the original Red Alert campaign and skirmish mode natively on a modern Mac or Linux machine.

USE CASE 2

Build a local debug version of Red Alert for an Android phone or tablet.

USE CASE 3

Build and test a Red Alert debug app on an iOS simulator or device.

USE CASE 4

Study a real world example of porting a 1990s C++ game engine to modern platforms.

What is it built with?

C++SDL2CMakeNinjaAndroid NDK

How does it compare?

dk8827/ra-portfaldyrd/auto-2026danking6/veltoc
Stars157157152
LanguageC++C++C++
Setup difficultyhardeasymoderate
Complexity4/51/53/5
Audiencedevelopergeneralgeneral

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · hard Time to first run · 1h+

Requires your own legally obtained Red Alert game files, plus platform build tools like Xcode, Android Studio, or Ninja depending on target.

GPLv3 with additional terms from Electronic Arts: you can use and modify the code, but derivative works generally must stay open source under the same terms.

So what is it?

ra-port is an unofficial project that lets you run the classic 1996 real time strategy game Command and Conquer: Red Alert on modern computers and phones. It builds the game as a native app for macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, using SDL2 to handle video, audio, and input across all four platforms. It is based on the original game source code that Electronic Arts released publicly under a GPLv3 license with some added terms, and it does not include any of the actual game files. That last point matters: this repository only contains code and build scripts, not the movies, music, or game data itself. To actually play, you need to already own Red Alert and provide your own copy of its files, for example from an old disc or a legally kept backup, then run a script that copies them into the right folder. As it stands, both the Allied and Soviet single player campaigns work fully, as does local skirmish mode against computer opponents, and cutscene videos play correctly with sound. Keyboard and mouse work on macOS, and touch controls and audio work on Android and iOS. Online multiplayer is not implemented yet, nor is a proper installer, expansion pack support, or polished release builds for mobile. The Android and iOS versions currently only build as local debug versions, not something you would publish to an app store. Building it requires developer tools like CMake, Ninja, and platform SDKs, plus, for the mobile versions, Android Studio or Xcode. The project is written in C++ and provides shell scripts to handle building, preparing game assets, and running the app on each platform.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Walk me through building ra-port on macOS using CMake and Ninja.
Prompt 2
Help me set up the Android debug build for ra-port including JDK, NDK, and SDK requirements.
Prompt 3
Explain how ra-port loads my own Red Alert game files without shipping any game assets itself.
Prompt 4
Show me how to run the headless Linux smoke test for ra-port using Xvfb.

Frequently asked questions

What is ra-port?

An unofficial source port that lets you run the original Command and Conquer: Red Alert natively on macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, using your own legally owned game files.

What language is ra-port written in?

Mainly C++. The stack also includes C++, SDL2, CMake.

What license does ra-port use?

GPLv3 with additional terms from Electronic Arts: you can use and modify the code, but derivative works generally must stay open source under the same terms.

How hard is ra-port to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated hard, with roughly 1h+ to a first successful run.

Who is ra-port for?

Mainly developer.

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