After getting myself familiar with the SDL API I would like to graduate to a game engine. I found 3 candidates ClanLib, Allegro and Plib. Which one would you choose and why. TIA for any advise, opinion or ..R.T.F.M.

Well, there''s always Ngine. Sorry for the shameless plug

rm -rf /bin/laden

Crystalspace is good.

I dont think you know what your talking about, or maybe I don''t.

SDL is the same as Allegro and ClanLib and I assume its the same as PLib. Allegro is a multi platform game programming library just like SDL is. So I dont think you have those 3 choices unless I misunderstood you or you misphrased something.

I was just about to post again that ClanLib, Allegro and Plib are all libraries, and not actually engines. I have used ClanLib extensively (remember that article "series" of one about ClanLib? Well, I wrote it ), and it''s wonderfully easy and powerful. I once used Allegro, but didn''t like it, though I''m sure things have changed. Never used Plib, though.

For libraries, though, I think SDL is the most powerful, but not necessarily the easiest to use. ClanLib is extremely easy to use, and has the advantage (if you see it that way) of being object-oriented.

rm -rf /bin/laden

I'd rather not use any, unless absolutely nessesary.

SDL is probably your best bet if you want a stable
SDL right now.

If you have patience, then I would recommend Plib because
it supports more of Linux's features.


Edited by - learfox on February 28, 2002 6:14:10 AM

Thanks guys for clearing my confused and mushy mind ( That''s what forums are for ).
So If I get it right SDL, ClanLib, Allegro and Plib are on the same layering level and are both libraries, some having more features than others.

Do they access the graphic hardware directly or through a lower layer ( like Xlib for exemple ) ?
TIA

They all access hardware through a lower layer. XFree, SVGALib, etc..., depending on the library and what''s available.
That''s the price you pay for portability

cu,
Prefect

Framebuffer support?

CrystalSpace and the Quake engines that have been released as source are about the only major graphics engines available for Linux. Everything else is either an API/abstraction layer, or a work-in-progress.

[ GDNet Start Here | GDNet Search Tool | GDNet FAQ | MS RTFM [MSDN] | SGI STL Docs | Google! ]
Thanks to Kylotan for the idea!