Projekt J.E.N.O.V.A. is a mixed-license set of components for the [[Godot]] engine. - [Website](https://jenova-framework.github.io/) - [Repo](https://github.com/Jenova-Framework/J.E.N.O.V.A) (does not contain actual source) > Projekt J.E.N.O.V.A is a comprehensive series of extension libraries for the Godot 4 Game Engine expanding its capabilities with cutting-edge technologies. \- Jenova documentation introduction[^5] See also: [[JenovaRuntime]] # Notability The public understanding of Projekt Jenova, based on the videos and posts I saw about it in June [[2025]] or so, seem to have gotten entirely the wrong idea about almost every single thing. Based on that, this note previously said it was a "fork" of Godot, which is not even slightly accurate. There *is* a Godot fork using Projekt Jenova by this developer called `Deicidium`, but this isn't about that. ## Disclaimer >[!NOTE] Disclaimer > The [[#Creator]] of this project contacted me to help improve the accuracy of this note and I was able to interview them. I appreciate the opportunity to improve my understanding and make my notes better. This doesn't mean that they approve, endorse, or agree with this note or anything else I've said or done nor vice versa. ## Projekt Jenova vs Jenova Runtime vs Jenova Framework All of these terms are used and different official sources seem to contain conflicting information - even within the same paragraph. Each one is often confused and conflated by people talking about them - such as youtubers and blog posts - though there are places that attempt to distinguish them. - The "Jenova Framework" includes both JenovaRuntime and JenovaSDK - The "JenovaRuntime" is the [[C++]] scripting layer - The "JenovaSDK" is the compiler management chain for the Runtime - "Projekt Jenova" contains all the above and [[#Features|more]] # Philosophy ## GenAI Slop Projekt Jenova itself lists [[Generative AI|Slop]] as a component: > JenovaLLM : A minimal Real-Time Vulkan powered Large Language Model Runtime developed using Jenova Framework. \- official Projekt Jenova readme[^11] Developer strongly denies that any of their own work is [[LLM]]-generated. ## Licensing The [[JenovaRuntime]] component was open sourced under the [[MIT License]], but that doesn't mean anything else will be. They've made some parts of their larger project open source and not others, like many others before them, including myself! But the way its talked about is confusing and requires digging into: > Real-Time C++ Scripting, System Emulation, Path-Tracing and Prototyping for Godot Engine \- Jenova GitHub org page[^10] > Jenova is a Free software. \- Jenova deployment repo and landing page[^11] Despite the above, at this time ([[2025-09-12]]), *Projekt* Jenova is *not* [[Free Software]] as a whole. [[Free Software]] is a *specific* thing[^18]. While many components of it are [[Free Software]], some are [[Freeware]],[^19] and others are not available publicly at all. I don't presume any malice here, these kinds of things happen when (often solo) developers without legal or marketing teams first make projects public. But this lack of a clear for-internal-use vs will-be-publicly-released split in the readme may be a major source of confusion around the project. The components listed on the project page are actually part of the dev's personal game engine for their own games and may or may not ever be released publicly.[^9] In general, demos for "Projekt J.E.N.O.V.A." should be treated as any other game studio talking about their internal game engine's features. From a Godot dev's perspective this means it shows what Godot could do with the developer's addons - in theory - not what *you* can do with it. Same as any tech demo from any studio using Unity or Unreal or any other commercially/freely available engine. ## Monetization > Even the Proprietary Version is free for both personal and commercial projects. \- [[#Creator|TheAenema]], in reply[^12] to questions about Projekt Jenova's monetization plans I think the dev wants to make games and sell games not be stuck maintaining engine parts for income. ## Creator Developed by [[TheAenema]]. # Platform Support Per the developer, the project is developed on Windows, for Windows. [[JenovaRuntime]] and other components may support other platforms. # Features ## Available - **[[JenovaRuntime|Jenova Framework]]**: The framework contains Jenova Runtime and JenovaSDK - **[[JenovaRuntime|Jenova Runtime]] (Core)**: The Jenova Interpreter, Jenova Compiler Interface, Jenova Packer, etc - **[[JenovaRuntime|JenovaSDK]]**: Provides helpers and APIs for hot-reloading, global allocation/access, etc - **[[JenovaRuntime#GenAI Slop|JenovaLLM]]** : An [[LLM]] - **[[JenovaRuntime#IDE|Jenova Code IDE]]**: An IDE for [[C++]] in Godot built on VSCode Core / [[VS Code|VSCodium]] ## Not Available Has been shown in demo videos, but is not publicly available in either as addons or in released games. - **JenovaRTX**: "A real-time RTX-powered path tracer for Godot developed using Jenova Framework featuring DLSS 4.0 and Ray Reconstruction." See also: [[#Licensing]] ### Path Tracing Demos have been shown of `JenovaRTX`, a component which apparently implements path tracing and ray tracing for Godot. This is a work in progress and not publicly available. Also, the demo looks... fine? It's not a good example, so it is hard to tell how good it might really be. The dev says that there will be a new demo soon which does a better job of showing it off. The features that I've gotten a preview of look really promising, for what its worth. ```cardlink url: https://youtu.be/TkPs0EsCt7E title: "JenovaRTX v1.4 : Real-Time RTX Path-Tracing for Godot 4" description: "A Fully Dynamic RTX-Powered Path-Tracing Renderer for Godot 4+, developed entirely within the Jenova Framework without requiring any modifications to the eng..." host: youtu.be favicon: https://www.youtube.com/s/desktop/aba54451/img/logos/favicon_32x32.png image: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TkPs0EsCt7E/maxresdefault.jpg ``` # References This note was split, so some citations moved to [[JenovaRuntime]]. [^5]: https://jenova-framework.github.io/docs/pages/Introduction [^6]: https://github.com/Jenova-Framework/Jenova-Runtime [^7]: https://jenova-framework.github.io/docs/pages/Advanced/Build-Guide/ [^9]: https://github.com/Jenova-Framework/Jenova-Runtime/issues/9 [^10]: https://github.com/Jenova-Framework [^11]: https://github.com/Jenova-Framework/J.E.N.O.V.A [^12]: https://github.com/Jenova-Framework/Jenova-Runtime/issues/9#issuecomment-2629259347 [^18]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software [^19]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeware