[SDL] 2D API evolution (SDL 1.3/2.0)

[David Olofson]

On Tuesday 15 August 2006 01:40, Torsten Giebl wrote:
> Hello !
> 
> 
> I do not know about the other things,
> but SDL 1.2 will be always an option for
> anybody that just wants to use 2D.
> It has also support for more systems and backends
> than SDL 1.3. It is some things lacking like
> MultiWindow Support, but you it should be always possible
> to get over these things.
> 
> SDL 1.3/2.0 is for me a footstep into a future API.
> 
> SDL's great thing was always to be used
> in commercial productions. An important thing that
> made SDL public and proved how stable it is.
> The new features are
> also a question of living or dieing for SDL.

My thoughts exactly!

SDL 1.2 is very useful and very portable, and should remain the first 
choice for those who need extreme portability. Meanwhile, 1.3/2.0 has 
to deal with the shift in the way computer graphics is handled, or 
I'm not quite sure what the point is.

Personally, I'd love to stick with software rendering with minimal 
hardware support (unlimited control and flexibility, and reliable, 
identical results on all platforms), but the hard fact is that the 
current generation of computers just aren't built to be used that 
way. Even procedural textures are probably best done by the GPU these 
days.

I'm not sure it's as serious as life or death of SDL as we know it (I 
don't see SDL 1.2 going away any time soon, no matter what) - but 
then again, it can't be a good sign when even an SDL diehard like 
myself starts considering alternatives for future projects...

Ok, maybe I'm just a coward for not daring to rely on OpenGL alone? 
However, it seems like it's a fact of life that proper OpenGL support 
is only to be expected on the relatively small number of computers 
owned by power users and hardcore gamers. This is a rather small user 
base if you're into anything but AAA titles.

So, Direct3D it is. ...and OpenGL, because I totally refuse using 
Windows as my primary development platform! :-D

Now, if/when it comes down to hacking the code anyway, I'd rather 
contribute to SDL, or some related effort, than invent and maintain 
Yet Another 2D Graphics Library that no one else will use.


//David Olofson - Programmer, Composer, Open Source Advocate

.-------  http://olofson.net - Games, SDL examples  -------.
|        http://zeespace.net - 2.5D rendering engine       |
|       http://audiality.org - Music/audio engine          |
|     http://eel.olofson.net - Real time scripting         |
'--  http://www.reologica.se - Rheology instrumentation  --'