From: frenchc AT cadvision DOT com (Calvin French) Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp Subject: Re: AllegroX project? Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 09:28:08 GMT Organization: CADVision Development Corp. Lines: 57 Message-ID: <5iuapm$28n4@elmo.cadvision.com> References: <5ina4e$1qmc AT elmo DOT cadvision DOT com> <01bc47e0$b3940540$428911d1 AT imag DOT net DOT imag DOT net> <5istrq$lq8 AT wallaby DOT aussie DOT net> NNTP-Posting-Host: ts19ip175.cadvision.com To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com DJ-Gateway: from newsgroup comp.os.msdos.djgpp "Sly" wrote: >Yes it is clear. I don't think it is even possible for DirectX to be used >in DOS, since it is designed for, programmed for, and installed into, >Win95. Is it just me, or does it seem like people are really beginning to >blur the line between Win95 and DOS programming? The line is blurred. Originally I had proposed just using the OEM-shipped DirectX driver, no windows at all. But someone else made the brilliant suggestion of just allowing Allegro to support DirectX when run from within Win95. But even ignoring this thread, the line between Windows and DOS programming is already blurred. Remember that even Win95 is only a thin fabric covering hardware, only "stepping in" when it has to. It is not any kind of great interpreter, redirecting hardware ins and outs accordingly, or any such thing. There are API calls, however, and this is basically the difference between DOS and Windows programming. But even a simple DOS program can make Windows API calls (much in the same way as a simple DOS program can detect the presence, version of Windows) without too much difficulty, but then of course it is a Windows program, since it requires Windows. Sure, there are other differences, but how many and where they lie definitely blurs the line. I always see the joy of Allegro as being a possible multi-platform game development suite; DOS, linux, Win95... So if I write a game using Allegro (which is easier than coding for just Windows, let alone all3) suddenly it can take advantage of DOS, linux and Windows platforms. DOS, through the hand-crafted drivers Shawn (and others??) have supplied with Allegro. Linux, through whatever is planned for linux (I've never used it myself). And Win95, if we add DirectX support. Shawn, I would really be interested in your input on this. Can Allegro be made into a multi-platform game lib? People (who know more than I) seem to suggest that adding *just* DirectX support would be near impossible, but that allowing Allegro to make Win95 DirectX API calls when run from within Windows is doable. And I know that linux was originally slated as a separate lib, so you'd at least have to ship 2 versions, but wouldn't it be kewlio to just have one, unified lib which takes advantage of whatever's there? Or would this require Allegro to be redesigned? I love Allegro because it is eloquent, it is straight c (allowing me to design my own OO interface over it, as robust or simple as I like... this is very important to me. Keep it straight C. Don't try and impose your own OO implementation, please :-) At least that's my take...) and it is not overbig. I hate libraries that expand into like fifty gaschmillion different directories and files. Anyways, now I'll get off my soapbox. What do you think though, about making one unified lib that is cross platform? Is it possible? At least I would love to see a version that could take advantage of Win95 API calls, but at least I'm not the person to do this, and you've got your hands full with the TrueColor stuff. Then, we can add Mac support. - Calvin - PS: Yes, the last line is a joke.