Open Source RoboticsRobots, software & learning

CARLA

Software

Autonomous-driving simulator source with sensor/scene interfaces and a version-specific Unreal Engine build workflow. [1] [2] [3] [5]

Installation & first result →Official websiteGetting started

For
Robotics developers evaluating the selected source workflow [1] [2] [3] [5]
Source rights
Named licenses are documented by part. Review licenses

Source researched · Not tested by us
Sources checked · Research details

Licenses & related hardware

Requirements · Research details and dates

On this page

Overview

CARLA is an autonomous-driving simulator with source for scenes, sensors and client interfaces. The reviewed revision identifies itself as the UE5.8 development branch ue58-dev, alongside a separate UE4.26 branch. This entry does not substitute documentation or packages from one engine line for the other, or claim that simulation validates a physical driving system. [1]

The README requires Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 or Windows 11 for this version and recommends substantial CPU/RAM/GPU resources, including 32 GB or more RAM and 16 GB or more VRAM. These are upstream configuration recommendations, not measured requirements for every scene or a procurement quote. The development snapshot is not automatically a validated stable release. [1]

Building requires separately authorized access to CARLA's Unreal Engine fork through Epic/GitHub account linkage. The documented Linux route runs CarlaSetup.sh interactively after cloning the engine-specific branch; Windows uses CarlaSetup.bat. Those scripts can install prerequisites and download/build substantial dependencies. No credentials, engine download or setup script were used here. [1]

To use an existing Python installation on Linux, the README passes --python-root=PATH_TO_PYTHON to setup. During subsequent CMake configuration, it requires both -DPython_ROOT_DIR=PATH and -DPython3_ROOT_DIR=PATH for a selected Python installation. After configuration, the documented build is cmake --build Build, with cmake --build Build --target carla-python-api-install to install the Python API and cmake --build Build --target launch to launch the editor. Keep the client API and server/engine build aligned before adapting the supplied manual-control example. Its inspected source imports the CARLA API and interactive dependencies; no client/server connection or scene behavior was reproduced. [1] [3] [5]

CARLA-specific code is MIT, CARLA assets have a separate CC-BY declaration, and Unreal Engine plus optional integration dependencies retain their own terms. An MIT repository notice does not clear every engine or scene asset. No engine compilation, Python API installation, rendering, sensor output, driving benchmark or real-world safety result was tested. Begin with the exact branch and compatible environment, then a matched editor/client workflow. [1] [2]

Is this for you?

Known limitations
  • UE5.8 development snapshot differs from UE4.26 and release packages.
  • Code MIT, CARLA assets separately CC-BY, engine and optional third-party integrations have distinct terms.
  • No engine download, build, scene launch or autonomous-driving validation performed.

Editorial assessment of bounded source evidence; no runtime, fit, manufacturing or compatibility proof.

[1] [2] [3] [5] · Editorial assessment

What you need

Operating system
  • Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04; Windows 11 for the reviewed UE5.8 source, per README.

Source-reported prerequisite/configuration only; no reproduced install, validated platform matrix or measured runtime proof.

[1]

Languages / runtimes
  • C++ simulator/client and Python API examples.

Source-reported prerequisite/configuration only; no reproduced install, validated platform matrix or measured runtime proof.

[1] [3] [5]

Dependencies
  • Reviewed ue58-dev source; Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 or Windows 11
  • README recommends 32 GB+ RAM, 16 GB+ VRAM and suitable NVIDIA GPU
  • Epic-linked access to the separate Unreal Engine fork; compiler/CMake/Ninja and matched client/server build

[1] [2] [3] [5]

Compute for the workload
  • Upstream recommends 32 GB or more RAM and 16 GB or more VRAM with listed Intel i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 7/9 and NVIDIA RTX GPU examples. Actual GPU SKU/capacity and workload needs must be checked; no measured minimum established by this review.

Source-reported prerequisite/configuration only; no reproduced install, validated platform matrix or measured runtime proof.

[1]

Installation & first result

Open the upstream getting-started guide [1] [2] [3] [5]

  • Inspect the pinned implementation and select the exact configuration described in the article.
  • Follow the chosen upstream environment/build route, resolving the listed dependencies before runtime or hardware integration.

Editorial assessment of bounded source evidence; no runtime, fit, manufacturing or compatibility proof.

[1] [2] [3] [5] · Editorial assessment

Installation

For the reviewed ue58-dev configuration, follow CarlaSetup.sh --interactive on Linux or CarlaSetup.bat on Windows, with separately authorized Unreal fork access. Python selection uses setup --python-root plus CMake Python_ROOT_DIR/Python3_ROOT_DIR; carla-python-api-install and launch are separate targets. No setup/build executed.

Source-reported prerequisite/configuration only; no reproduced install, validated platform matrix or measured runtime proof.

[1]

What we checked

Pinned source and selected artifact structure review only; no dependency installation, upstream build, native CAD/kernel/fit/strength validation, fabrication, wiring, calibration, simulation, powered operation or performance testing. Original archives stay private.

Not yet established

  • Requirements: host computer
  • Version-specific hardware compatibility (ecosystem tags alone do not establish it)

Updates

Upstream last updated
Not established
Latest release
Not established
Profile updated
Nov 1, 2026
Sources last checked
Nov 1, 2026
Next review
Dec 1, 2026
Reviewed revision
2466fff

Source files and licenses

Distinct inspectable robotics software/data workflow with specific contribution and bounded next source-investigation step; not performance or physical-build certification.

LayerAvailability / license
softwareavailable · MIT
Selected project implementation; external dependencies, hardware, weights/data and asset rights remain separate. [3] [2]
documentationavailable · MIT
Scoped project declaration; no blanket grant over all linked material. [1] [2]

Outside the selected contribution; no separate released layer claimed.

References

Each source links to the exact revision we read. “Used for” shows where this page relies on it.

Correction guidance · Discussion is not enabled · Profile format 0.7.0-draft.5

Change history