Question 1

How do I install cl-sdl2 on Windows?

Accepted Answer

First, install the SDL2 C library by downloading the development libraries from the official SDL2 site and setting up paths. Then, use Quicklisp to load cl-sdl2 via (ql:quickload 'sdl2), as outlined in the installation instructions for cross-platform setup.

Question 2

cl-sdl2 vs using SDL2 with C++: which is better for game development?

Accepted Answer

cl-sdl2 is best for Common Lisp developers who value interactive debugging and Lisp's REPL-driven workflow, but native SDL2 with C++ offers better performance and a larger ecosystem. Choose based on language preference and performance needs.

Question 3

How to handle keyboard and mouse events in cl-sdl2?

Accepted Answer

Use cl-sdl2's event polling functions like sdl2:poll-event to capture SDL2 events, then process types such as :keydown or :mousemotion with Lisp conditionals, similar to the C API but integrated into Lisp's control flow.

Question 4

Does cl-sdl2 support OpenGL or Vulkan for 3D graphics?

Accepted Answer

Yes, cl-sdl2 supports OpenGL through SDL2's GL context functions, with examples provided. Vulkan support depends on SDL2's Vulkan bindings, which may require additional configuration and are not explicitly covered in the README.

Question 5

What are common issues when running cl-sdl2 on macOS?

Accepted Answer

The main issue is threading: on macOS, SDL2 calls must be on the main thread, especially with SBCL. The library provides sdl2:make-this-thread-main to wrap initialization, as detailed in the OSX-specific notes.

Question 6

Is cl-sdl2 actively maintained and compatible with the latest SDL2?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it's maintained by Michael Fiano with multiple contributors, but it wraps SDL2 2.0.x. Compatibility with newer SDL2 versions may vary, so check the GitHub repository for updates and community support.

Question 7

How to debug cl-sdl2 applications with SLIME?

Accepted Answer

Enable Swank/Slynk integration by ensuring swank.asd or slynk.asd is loadable via ASDF, then use SLIME's interactive features like restarts and inspectors during runtime, as mentioned in the Swank/Slynk section of the README.

cl-sdl2

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