Re: [AD] Thoughts on speeding up X

[Evert Glebbeek <eglebbk@xxxxxxxxxx>]

On Saturday 31 July 2004 02:41, Chris wrote:
> Actually, I think I have something like this pretty much done already.. 

Oh, so do I, in fact ;)
Most of my programs call an initialize_graphics() function to set the 
parameters of the display mode, then at update time they call 
prepare_gfx_update() which does whatever the current update method 
requires to prepare (eg, clear the DRS stack, make sure the proper page is 
displayed), they don't acces screen directly but use a get_screen_bmp() 
function that either points them to the relevant display page or to a 
double buffer. At the end of the drawing cycle, they call 
gfx_update_done() which does the page flipping or DRS update.
If I need acces to the bitmap that is currently being displayed on the 
monitor (for an FPS counter that is always updated, or for use ofthe 
Allegro GUI), I call get_monitor_bmp().

So that's

initialize_graphics()
begin_gfx_update()
gfx_update_done()
get_screen_bmp()
get_monitor_bmp()

There is one additional function, mark_rect(), for use with dirty 
rectangles that's not particularly relevant to the current discussion IMO.

> We already have the functions to indicate the beginning 
> and end of a drawing cycle: acquire_bitmap and release_bitmap. I'll look 
> around to see if I still have the code.

I'm not sure I like extending their use to this range, personally.

Evert