Status of iPhone support in SDL?

SDL Development
1

Hi All,

Some quick questions:

What is the status of the iPhone port of SDL? Is it usable?
Is it just in the CVS version, or is there an official release yet?

Thanks in advance, for any info. :slight_smile:

Background:

I’ve been out of touch with SDL for a year or two - just rejoined
the mailing list a couple of days ago. I’m thinking of developing
an iPhone game, probably using OpenGLES, and wondering if SDL
support for the iPhone is at a stage where I could use it.

I have the iPhone SDK, and am registered as a developer. I could
just work with the native OpenGLES API, but I’m hoping that SDL
would make life easier. I saw an earlier posting on the list which
suggested that not all of the code was available due to the Apple NDA,
but that has been lifted now.

So, I’m just wondering what the current status is. Any links to
sample code, etc, would be much appreciated, too.

Regards,
Lorcan Hamill

2

Lorcan Hamill <lh-sdl lorcanhamill.com> writes:
…

What is the status of the iPhone port of SDL? Is it usable?
Is it just in the CVS version, or is there an official release yet?
…
So, I’m just wondering what the current status is. Any links to
sample code, etc, would be much appreciated, too.

Regards,
Lorcan Hamill

I would also be interested in this. I have no info to add, just chiming in.
Holms Futrell was the developer working on this directly under Sam I believe.
If you e-mail him and get a reply let us know here please.

3

I third that motion - and am quite interested in this. Let me/us know
asap, if someone finds something out.On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 11:40 AM, Michael Hamilton wrote:

Lorcan Hamill <lh-sdl lorcanhamill.com> writes:
…

What is the status of the iPhone port of SDL? Is it usable?
Is it just in the CVS version, or is there an official release yet?
…
So, I’m just wondering what the current status is. Any links to
sample code, etc, would be much appreciated, too.

Regards,
Lorcan Hamill

I would also be interested in this. I have no info to add, just chiming in.
Holms Futrell was the developer working on this directly under Sam I believe.
If you e-mail him and get a reply let us know here please.

SDL mailing list
SDL at lists.libsdl.org
http://lists.libsdl.org/listinfo.cgi/sdl-libsdl.org

4

Hello,

Last time I tried it out the iPhone port was usable, once compiled, but
somewhere along the line compilation issues were introduced that I’ve
still got to fix.

The port (so far as I know) is only found in the SDL 1.3 SVN.
http://www.libsdl.org/svn.php

To get a sense of what can be done, I suggest checking out the code and
reading the iPhoneOS readme file. There are also iPhone SDL demos in
the directory XCodeiPhoneOS/Demos.

When deciding what to use to build your game, you might want to consider
these things:

SDL 1.3 and SDL for iPhone is still a work in progress.

If you’re planning on doing an iTunes app store release, then you’d have
to get a commercial license for SDL, since the iPhone port uses static
linking (due to terms of iPhone SDK agreement) but the normal SDL
license (LGPL) doesn’t really allow this. You can talk to Sam Lantinga
about this.

Like you mentioned, it’s possible to do the OpenGL ES coding yourself.
Take a look at apple’s OpenGL ES application template – you might find
it can be easily adapted to your needs. For 2D there is also the option
of using CoreGraphics for your drawing.

  • Holmes

Lorcan Hamill wrote:> Hi All,

Some quick questions:

What is the status of the iPhone port of SDL? Is it usable?
Is it just in the CVS version, or is there an official release yet?

Thanks in advance, for any info. :slight_smile:

Background:

I’ve been out of touch with SDL for a year or two - just rejoined
the mailing list a couple of days ago. I’m thinking of developing
an iPhone game, probably using OpenGLES, and wondering if SDL
support for the iPhone is at a stage where I could use it.

I have the iPhone SDK, and am registered as a developer. I could
just work with the native OpenGLES API, but I’m hoping that SDL
would make life easier. I saw an earlier posting on the list which
suggested that not all of the code was available due to the Apple NDA,
but that has been lifted now.

So, I’m just wondering what the current status is. Any links to
sample code, etc, would be much appreciated, too.

Regards,
Lorcan Hamill

SDL mailing list
SDL at lists.libsdl.org
http://lists.libsdl.org/listinfo.cgi/sdl-libsdl.org

5

If you’re planning on doing an iTunes app store release, then you’d have to
get a commercial license for SDL, since the iPhone port uses static linking
(due to terms of iPhone SDK agreement) but the normal SDL license (LGPL)
doesn’t really allow this. You can talk to Sam Lantinga about this.

LGPL sure does allow static linking, as long as you provide the object
code to your application so users can relink it with a new version of SDL.
Providing the source to your application is ok, too, of course.

The fact that you need a developer certificate (or a jailbroken phone) to
run the relinked app is another matter, of course…

// MartinOn Thu, 15 Jan 2009, Holmes Futrell wrote:

6

Heh, sorry, I should have been more precise.

But anyway, anybody who wants to know more about LGPL and iPhone can
refer to previous discussions in the list. I believe there was a very
long discussion on the topic back during Google Summer of Code.

  • Holmes

Martin Storsj? wrote:> On Thu, 15 Jan 2009, Holmes Futrell wrote:

If you’re planning on doing an iTunes app store release, then you’d
have to get a commercial license for SDL, since the iPhone port uses
static linking (due to terms of iPhone SDK agreement) but the normal
SDL license (LGPL) doesn’t really allow this. You can talk to Sam
Lantinga about this.

LGPL sure does allow static linking, as long as you provide the object
code to your application so users can relink it with a new version of
SDL. Providing the source to your application is ok, too, of course.

The fact that you need a developer certificate (or a jailbroken phone)
to run the relinked app is another matter, of course…

// Martin

SDL mailing list
SDL at lists.libsdl.org
http://lists.libsdl.org/listinfo.cgi/sdl-libsdl.org

7

What I’d really like to see is an SDL application on Linux/Mac/Windows that
would communicate with a stock iPhone 3G to download pictures, upload
ringtones, etc.

Anyone ever given thought to such an application? (I know someone will ask, so
yes I’ve thought about writing one but my time is too limited.)

JeffOn Thursday 15 January 2009 06:59, Lorcan Hamill wrote:

What is the status of the iPhone port of SDL?

8

What is the status of the iPhone port of SDL?

What I’d really like to see is an SDL application on Linux/Mac/
Windows that
would communicate with a stock iPhone 3G to download pictures, upload
ringtones, etc.

Well, (non jailbroken) iphone apps aren’t allowed to do much outside
of their sandbox, though they can do some picture stuff.
Probably nothing with ringtones though, as they’re part of the itunes
db.
Also, why SDL for that? It doesn’t really make sense outside of
portability.
-Zachary
@ZacharyOn Jan 15, 2009, at 1:58 PM, Jeff Post wrote:

On Thursday 15 January 2009 06:59, Lorcan Hamill wrote:

9

Yeah, I have to say, SDL on iPhone (or any platform) will not help you
create such an application.

What you’re really asking for is a 3rd party iPhone synchronization
app. The main stumbling block to doing this is reverse engineering
iTunes (and then after that perhaps legality!)

  • Holmes

Zachary wrote:> On Jan 15, 2009, at 1:58 PM, Jeff Post wrote:

On Thursday 15 January 2009 06:59, Lorcan Hamill wrote:

What is the status of the iPhone port of SDL?

What I’d really like to see is an SDL application on
Linux/Mac/Windows that
would communicate with a stock iPhone 3G to download pictures, upload
ringtones, etc.

Well, (non jailbroken) iphone apps aren’t allowed to do much outside
of their sandbox, though they can do some picture stuff.
Probably nothing with ringtones though, as they’re part of the itunes db.
Also, why SDL for that? It doesn’t really make sense outside of
portability.
-Zachary
zachary at ioquake.org

SDL mailing list
SDL at lists.libsdl.org
http://lists.libsdl.org/listinfo.cgi/sdl-libsdl.org

10

What I have in mind is an application running on the PC that gets photos from
the iPhone, such as gphoto2 does, and also displays them, with an option to
save as jpeg files. It could also upload music/ringtones/whatever from the PC
to the iPhone. Windows software to do this is available, but nothing for
Linux or OS X (that I’m aware of). Seems to me that SDL on the PC would be a
good tool to do the graphical stuff.

JeffOn Thursday 15 January 2009 15:26, Zachary wrote:

Well, (non jailbroken) iphone apps aren’t allowed to do much outside
of their sandbox, though they can do some picture stuff.
Probably nothing with ringtones though, as they’re part of the itunes
db.
Also, why SDL for that? It doesn’t really make sense outside of
portability.

11

gphoto2 works with iPhone in addition to cameras, at least for downloading
pictures from the phone to the PC. As far as I know, there are no legal
issues with that.

It would be nice to have other features such as synchronization, but mostly
I’m interested in photos. I can accomplish what I need with gphoto2 and
gqview, but it would be darned nice to have one application to do the
functions of both.

JeffOn Thursday 15 January 2009 15:35, Holmes Futrell wrote:

What you’re really asking for is a 3rd party iPhone synchronization
app. The main stumbling block to doing this is reverse engineering
iTunes (and then after that perhaps legality!)

12

I would be looking forward to a possible port of SDL for game
programming on the iPhone.On Thu, Jan 15, 2009 at 6:43 PM, Jeff Post <j_post at pacbell.net> wrote:

On Thursday 15 January 2009 15:35, Holmes Futrell wrote:

What you’re really asking for is a 3rd party iPhone synchronization
app. The main stumbling block to doing this is reverse engineering
iTunes (and then after that perhaps legality!)

gphoto2 works with iPhone in addition to cameras, at least for downloading
pictures from the phone to the PC. As far as I know, there are no legal
issues with that.

It would be nice to have other features such as synchronization, but mostly
I’m interested in photos. I can accomplish what I need with gphoto2 and
gqview, but it would be darned nice to have one application to do the
functions of both.

Jeff

SDL mailing list
SDL at lists.libsdl.org
http://lists.libsdl.org/listinfo.cgi/sdl-libsdl.org

13

Thanks to Holmes and everyone else who replied - and sorry for being
slow in responding.

Given the licensing issues, and the fact that the game is going
to be iPhone-only (so portability is not an issue), I think I’ll
stick with using OpenGLES for the graphics. But I’ll keep an eye
on SDL for future projects, of course.

Regards,

Lorcan

Holmes Futrell wrote:> Hello,

Last time I tried it out the iPhone port was usable, once compiled, but
somewhere along the line compilation issues were introduced that I’ve
still got to fix.

The port (so far as I know) is only found in the SDL 1.3 SVN.
http://www.libsdl.org/svn.php

To get a sense of what can be done, I suggest checking out the code and
reading the iPhoneOS readme file. There are also iPhone SDL demos in
the directory XCodeiPhoneOS/Demos.

When deciding what to use to build your game, you might want to consider
these things:

SDL 1.3 and SDL for iPhone is still a work in progress.

If you’re planning on doing an iTunes app store release, then you’d have
to get a commercial license for SDL, since the iPhone port uses static
linking (due to terms of iPhone SDK agreement) but the normal SDL
license (LGPL) doesn’t really allow this. You can talk to Sam Lantinga
about this.

Like you mentioned, it’s possible to do the OpenGL ES coding yourself.
Take a look at apple’s OpenGL ES application template – you might find
it can be easily adapted to your needs. For 2D there is also the option
of using CoreGraphics for your drawing.

  • Holmes

Lorcan Hamill wrote:

Hi All,

Some quick questions:

What is the status of the iPhone port of SDL? Is it usable?
Is it just in the CVS version, or is there an official release yet?

Thanks in advance, for any info. :slight_smile:

Background:

I’ve been out of touch with SDL for a year or two - just rejoined
the mailing list a couple of days ago. I’m thinking of developing
an iPhone game, probably using OpenGLES, and wondering if SDL
support for the iPhone is at a stage where I could use it.

I have the iPhone SDK, and am registered as a developer. I could
just work with the native OpenGLES API, but I’m hoping that SDL
would make life easier. I saw an earlier posting on the list which
suggested that not all of the code was available due to the Apple NDA,
but that has been lifted now.

So, I’m just wondering what the current status is. Any links to
sample code, etc, would be much appreciated, too.

Regards,
Lorcan Hamill

SDL mailing list
SDL at lists.libsdl.org
http://lists.libsdl.org/listinfo.cgi/sdl-libsdl.org

SDL mailing list
SDL at lists.libsdl.org
http://lists.libsdl.org/listinfo.cgi/sdl-libsdl.org