Replace SDL 1.2 with sdl12-compat using SDL 2.0
Summary
This Change proposes to replace SDL 1.2 with sdl12-compat, which uses SDL 2.0.
Owner
- Name: Neal Gompa
- Email: ngompa13@gmail.com
Current status
- Targeted release: Fedora Linux 35
- Last updated: 2021-06-10
- FESCo issue: 2614
- Tracker bug: #1967205
- Release notes tracker: #701
Detailed Description
SDL 1.2 development ended long ago, with SDL 2.0 replacing it. However, many older games still use SDL 1.2 and cannot change to SDL 2.0. In order to help move SDL 1.2 games into the modern world, let's replace SDL 1.2 with sdl12-compat, which uses SDL 2.0.
Feedback
- sdl-config was broken until sdl12-compat-0.0.1~git.20210609.efe9791-1.fc35
- perl-SDL would fail 10 of 58 tests if it checked for SDL initialization properly
Benefit to Fedora
Switching SDL 1.2 powered games to use sdl12-compat
offers significant advantages:
- Automatic support for Wayland with SDL 2.0.16+
- Native support for PipeWire for audio
- Massively improved support for inputs (including gamepads)
Ultimately, SDL 2.0 is actively maintained and developed. We want applications that use SDL to use an actively maintained codebase.
Scope
- Proposal owners:
- Package libsdl12-compat (RH#1960960)
- Retire
SDL
completely, as replacement development headers are available
- Other developers: N/A
- Release engineering: #10118
- Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change)
- Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)
- Alignment with Objectives: N/A
Upgrade/compatibility impact
The SDL
package would be transparently upgraded to libsdl12-compat
package and games using it should just transparently start using SDL 2.0.
How To Test
1. Swap SDL
for sdl12-compat
: dnf swap SDL sdl12-compat
2. Run something that uses SDL 1.2 like icebreaker
and see that it works.
User Experience
There shouldn't be a noticeable user impact, other than possibly a smoother experience because applications are using SDL 2.0.
Dependencies
Contingency Plan
- Contingency mechanism: Unretire
SDL
. - Contingency deadline: Final Freeze
- Blocks release? N/A (not a System Wide Change), Yes/No
Documentation
Release Notes
Games that use SDL 1.2 will now transparently use SDL 2.0 through the sdl12-compat
package. This makes it so applications that historically used SDL 1.2 now use SDL 2.0.