Is there a way that I can use SDL effects to distort or otherwise manipulate my X11 display? I know SDL normally runs only it is own window and can do effects there, but can’t it do that to the whole display? I’ve seen KDE screen savers that manipulate X11 displays (twisting, skewing, etc…), can SDL be used for that? if not does anyone know how else something like that can be done?
Is there a way that I can use SDL effects to distort or otherwise manipulate my X11 display? I know SDL normally runs only it is own window and can do effects there, but can’t it do that to the whole display? I’ve seen KDE screen savers that manipulate X11 displays (twisting, skewing, etc…), can SDL be used for that? if not does anyone know how else something like that can be done?
To do what you want you have to have access to the root window. SDL does
not provide access to the root window. You can do what you want to do
using the raw XLib APIs. Your best bet is to examine the source code for
the KDE screen savers you are talking about to see how they do it.
Bob Pendleton.On Tue, 2003-06-17 at 12:42, Matt Ficken wrote:
–
±----------------------------------+
Bob Pendleton: independent writer +
and programmer. +
email: Bob at Pendleton.com +
±----------------------------------+
Right - and of course, that means it’s platform specific. It can be
done in most desktop environments, though.
Anyway, note that most screensavers that “manipulate the screen"
actually don’t. They just grab a screenshot and then open up a
fullscreen window or display that they render into. That gives the
screensaver more control, and avoids the requirement of getting
"write access” to the full screen and then refreshing the screen when
terminating the screensaver.
How about doing your “desktop manipulation” using OpenGL?
//David Olofson - Programmer, Composer, Open Source Advocate
.- The Return of Audiality! --------------------------------.
| Free/Open Source Audio Engine for use in Games or Studio. |
| RT and off-line synth. Scripting. Sample accurate timing. |
`-----------------------------------> http://audiality.org -’
— http://olofson.net — http://www.reologica.se —On Tuesday 17 June 2003 20.56, Bob Pendleton wrote:
On Tue, 2003-06-17 at 12:42, Matt Ficken wrote:
Is there a way that I can use SDL effects to distort or otherwise
manipulate my X11 display? I know SDL normally runs only it is
own window and can do effects there, but can’t it do that to the
whole display? I’ve seen KDE screen savers that manipulate X11
displays (twisting, skewing, etc…), can SDL be used for that?
if not does anyone know how else something like that can be done?
To do what you want you have to have access to the root window. SDL
does not provide access to the root window. You can do what you
want to do using the raw XLib APIs. Your best bet is to examine the
source code for the KDE screen savers you are talking about to see
how they do it.
The screensavers actually take a screenshot of the desktop and then make a
fullscreen surface and then manipulate that surface, your eyes cant tell the
difference.On Tuesday 17 June 2003 10:42 am, Matt Ficken wrote:
Is there a way that I can use SDL effects to distort or otherwise
manipulate my X11 display? I know SDL normally runs only it is own window
and can do effects there, but can’t it do that to the whole display? I’ve
seen KDE screen savers that manipulate X11 displays (twisting, skewing,
etc…), can SDL be used for that? if not does anyone know how else
something like that can be done?
–
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety. "
–Benjamin Franklin
well, you probly want to find a binding of SDL that is easier than C++
(perhaps ruby or python) since for a 10 year old, learning C/C++ is hard
enough without then having to know all of what goes into making a game.
Another idea is i heard about something called DarkBasic which might be
better for your son to start off on before he goes into the wild world of
baking from scratch so to speak.
As for some specific help, you might point your youngster to TNTBasic
or REALbasic, which are both BASIC-oriented languages that provide some
rather extensive documentation. BASIC is also one of the more easy
languages to learn, and these variants (specifically TNTBasic) have
lots of enhancements geared toward game programming.
Good luck, and if you’re son has any questions, feel free to drop me a
note and I’ll try to help out.
-danielOn Thursday, June 19, 2003, at 04:58 PM, angusf at mac.com wrote:
My son wants to learn programming so he can write a game. Hes 10 and
smarter than me
What single book would be the best to start him on the concepts…
Please reply direct and sorry for the bandwidth.
