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there already is an open sound library, apparently, its done by loki. http://www.openal.org/home/

The other problem is that the designers of OpenAL dont want to fix these problems, or let 3rd party developers do it for them.

Huh? Just like with OpenGL, an OpenAL developer can create extensions to the core API, if there is need. If the extensions are generally useful, they often get folded back into the "main" API. A lot of useful functionality for OpenAL is implemented in Loki created extensions, some of which are obsoleted by the 2.0 API.

I am not quite sure where you get the idea it isnt in development. The ftp site has a new tarball as of two days ago.

check the archives of the maillinglist.[http://www.openal.org/ml/openal/]

it seems te be active

OpenGL only offers graphics, dx offers: graphics, joystick, sound, forcefeedback, mousecapturing.

Since DirectX is really a set of APIs (DirectDraw, DirectInput, etc.) I'm not sure this is a fair comparison. When we talk about OpenGL, of course we're only talking about a graphics API. Haven't you heard of OpenAL? It's a complementary open audio API. There's even an input API called OpenIL, and more? My point is, if you aren't going to compare MS's set of APIs to another complete set of APIs, like SDL, then at least compare it to the entire set of Open*L APIs. As new as some of them are, they do exist!

Also, what about a wrapper against D3D? There is currently a nice integration with OpenGL, when SDL needs to use 3D acceleration, but under Windows (where a lot of SDL games already exist) most of the coders are using D3D. Also, based on the fact that D3D 8 is not as bloated as previous versions, a wrapper for other OSes could be easily achieved (IMHO).

Last question, again on the spirit of 'SDL Vs DirectX', are there any plans for more support for more input devices, like force feedback wheels etc.

Take care and thank you for all the hard work you have put on SDL the last few years. (and also greatly thank you for the BeOS port! :)

My direct answer to this ask Slashdot, bearing in mind that IANAL, is yes, you are legitimately in violation of the SGI trademark, it is quite conceivable that people could confuse OpenGL and Open[ICA]L, esp. as all are graphics libraries, and you should not fight this, because you will quite legitimately lose.

• OpenIL image manipulation library
  
• OpenCL "OpenCL aims to be a portable, easy to use, and efficient C++ cryto library."
  
• OpenAL "Announcing a new open source platform for all-purpose high-fidelity sound."
  

...to push game programmers not to use DirectX in the first place? Stick to open standards and you can port the games to just about anything.

• OpenGL
• OpenAL
• OpenPlay
• etc...

Well, my project is using OpenGL and OpenAL as the 3D library and audio library, respectively. For a 2D library, OpenPTC is always nice, but you can also try faking some 2D under OpenGL. That is the first step on getting your software cross-platform.

Input is not as problematic as you'd think and is relitively easy to port across platforms. Especially for joystick, mouse, and keys.

Right now I'm using GLUT to handle input and windowing for the actual game executable and wxWindows for the other tools. I'm tempted to switch entirely over to wxWindows, although it doesn't have an up-to-date Mac port. The problem with GLUT is that it isn't fast and isn't powerful, but it's great for getting things up and running quickly.

But as long as you just have to rewrite the program that popps up a window and sets up the OpenGL/OpenAL contexts, it's not as big as starting in DirectX and porting to GL. Just carefully architect the basic framework and there won't be any problems.

Also note that Mozilla's C++ Portability guide may prove to be useful. The goal is to think about portability from the beginning.

The draft specification for OpenAL is available here. Although it is still undergoing review and open for comments, the interface is stable and unlikely to change significantly. Linux users can try out the "very nearly" 1.0 implementation by checking out the devel-1-0 branch of cvs.

Linux specific docs are in located in cvs, as are test programs. Tutorials are available on the web, and anyone running into problems can either post their question on the mailing list or drop by #openal on openprojects. I'd be interested in hearing what sort of things you think are unaddressed in the docs and what sort of information you feel is lacking.

EAX is not like A3D. EAX is reverb. A3D was a proprietary API and hardware for 3D positional audio. In computer games. Implemented on sound cards. It makes me feel like a rebel to cheer for the underdog, too, but I think we should be fighting for open standards, not just turnover among proprietary corporate initiatives. PS: I could have sworn we were talking about MP3 players anyway. Chris Owens
San Carlos, CA

How about OpenAL. I think we should have also OpenIL (Input Library) and perhaps OpenFL (Feedback Library) for control devices - think about you could treat keyboards, joysticks and insert-your-favorites-here input devices as one from programming viewpoint.
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SDL (Simple DirectMedia Layer) is an excellent API for the graphics and input portions. It's even cross-platform, using DirectX 7 under Win95/98 and GDI under WinNT 4. Not to mention Linux (X, X/MIT-SHM, SVGAlib, AAlib, fbcon, ggi), Be, Mac, etc.

FWIW, it's what Loki uses for their ports.

Coupled with OpenAL (used in HG2, SMAC, SC3K, SoF, and Descent3), it's solving real-world problems now.

The API's are there, and maturing quickly. Feel free to use them :-)

I think OpenAL might be the 3D sound device API/subsystem were waiting for.

What do I do, when it seems I relate to Judas more than You?

How about real standards like CORBA, OpenGL and PHP or PERL. What comes to sound OpenAL is very promising.
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Oops sorry !
Here's the link

However, I checked out the link to OpenAL. It looks interesting. Excerpts:

OpenAL, the Open Audio Library, seeks to become the audio counterpart to OpenGL for audio. With OpenAL it is possible to create three-dimensional sound across many platforms, such as Linux, Apple Macintosh, Windows and more, with quality suitable for professional projects like games and multimedia applications.

OpenAL is being sponsored by commercial software and hardware companies to help make open source work. Here is a current list of the member and partner companies:

• Creative Labs
• Loki Entertainment Software

This certainly is offtopic here, but in case the AC is right and Slashdot is not posting this for some sinister reason, I figured I'd make it seen using my +1 bonus.

Still, there's no reason to assume the worst; we don't even know if this has been submitted as a story, so don't call me a paranoid conspiracy theorist or anything :-)
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