hello guys. I am totally new to Game programming.. I have basics knowldge of C++. and have started learning SDL tutorial from lazyfoo.net and finding it interesting. but when I searched about SDL, it seemed to me that nowadays people hardly use SDL SFML etc 2D libraries, rather than they use OpenGL, DeirectX etc. so is it good to begin game prograaming with SDL or I should move to 3D libraries or any other 2D libraries before going deep into SDL. one more thing is it good to use a Engine? or should I continue learning developing games manually? I need help plz. and lazyfoo's tutorial is good but sometimes it's not so clear. do you guys have any other resources or Books? if yes then please suggest me. Thanks in advance !

You should absolutely keep using SDL. Even if you're using OpenGL for rendering, you can (and most likely want) use it for all other game-related tasks. Valve use it so this is not some kind of learning dummy, it's a really useful library. I use it in my game, and I get Mac and Linux support for free.

As for whether you should use SDL for graphics or go to OpenGL, it really depends on how ambitious you want your graphics to be, but since you said you are new to game programming and are posting in the beginner's forums, I'm going to suppose you're going to stick to blitting and simple shapes, and for that SDL's graphics is more than enough.

The reason most 2D games ignore SDL's video API and go for DirectX Graphics or OpenGL is because they want to gain access to advanced rendering technology, which is only available through those APIs. For example, you may want to use a pixel shader to apply special image processing. State-of-the-art 2D rendering engines such as Ubisoft's Ubi-Art Framework (Ray Man, Child of Light, etc.) would not be possible with SDL rendering because there are too many things lacking.

Also, indie 2D games sometimes want a retro look, and this is quite ironic but some old rendering techniques are no longer supported and need to be emulated by newer technologies. The best example of this is palette animations: the color-indexed video modes are no longer supported by modern hardware so to get the same effect you need a pixel shader.

I have to say though that I'm not an expert of SDL's video API because I use OpenGL and DirectX, and SDL2 is recent and might support the retro tech I have mentioned above. A guy at the Steam dev conference called SDL 2.0's video API the most awesome Super Nintendo you've ever seen so if you're into retro stuff you might want to check if 2.0 supports it. (I know that 1.2 didn't.)

Thanks for helping. then I should continue my learning SDL. by the way do you have any extra resources where you will learn from scrath. I tutorial I am following is good but I want all the details as I wanna master SDL2. So any light on that?

I am sorry. I made this post to ask a question before I remembered that google is my friend.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17981834/keeping-sdl2-and-sdl1-2-on-the-same-os

I read the forum faq, but it does not seem to say anything about asking related questions in another person´s thread. For the future, is it ok to ask related questions in another´s thread, or am I supposed to make a separate thread? Sorry for the confusion.

Thank you.

Wassail.

I have used SDL for a decade, but I have never used the built-in rendering functionality, I have always used OpenGL in tandem with the OS abstraction for input and window management, etc.

I have looked at SFML, but had some problems just trying to set it up, it seemed very neat and nice and I found that very attractive. SDL2 improves on a lot of things and is very useful.

I have used SDL for a decade, but I have never used the built-in rendering functionality, I have always used OpenGL in tandem with the OS abstraction for input and window management, etc.

I have looked at SFML, but had some problems just trying to set it up, it seemed very neat and nice and I found that very attractive. SDL2 improves on a lot of things and is very useful.

thanks brother :)

I am sorry. I made this post to ask a question before I remembered that google is my friend.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17981834/keeping-sdl2-and-sdl1-2-on-the-same-os

I read the forum faq, but it does not seem to say anything about asking related questions in another person´s thread. For the future, is it ok to ask related questions in another´s thread, or am I supposed to make a separate thread? Sorry for the confusion.

Thank you.

Wassail.

i don't know brother. I use only SDL2

Since I have been reading a few threads in the beginner´s forum, and since I have not seen any threads with related questions, I am going to assume that each thread is for a specific question.

I wish you much success with SDL2! Brother, I wish you much success in your journey to be a successful game developer. Be brave, and do it!

Wassail.

Since I have been reading a few threads in the beginner´s forum, and since I have not seen any threads with related questions, I am going to assume that each thread is for a specific question.

I wish you much success with SDL2! Brother, I wish you much success in your journey to be a successful game developer. Be brave, and do it!

Wassail.

Let's see !! thanks for the encouragement :)

Since I have been reading a few threads in the beginner´s forum, and since I have not seen any threads with related questions, I am going to assume that each thread is for a specific question.

Yes, typically that is the case. However, if PersonA asks a question, and PersonB responds with an answer, and you have a question about PersonB's answer (for example, if it mentions a feature you've never heard of, or if the person suggests doing something in a way you don't understand), it's not uncommon to ask questions about that answer within the same thread. I do anyway.

But if it it seems like it's going to derail the topic too much, or if it's not directly in response to a specific post someone made within the thread, then it's likely better suited to its own thread. The community is really active, so you don't need to worry about being seen, or about bumping or anything like that (general rule for bumping is: not unless several days have passed or unless you have new information to add).

[I'm not a moderator, this is just my perspective of the unwritten community code of conduct]