Lockups (with glBitmap)?

[cfmdobbie]

I'm getting a few lockups with LWJGL - is anyone else noticing these or have I got driver problems?

A small test application I've got seems at the moment to lockup whenever the window loses focus, but only if I'm making glBitmap calls.  If I remove them I can ALT+TAB to my hearts desire.  When I add them back, it locks on the first switch.  I've repeated this process many times now.


(I started writing this post about *random* lockups, and was testing things while writing it.  I now believe that background applications were "randomly" taking control away from my LWJGL window, causing the lockup.  TBC.)

[cfmdobbie]

Okay, confirmed.  I just wrote a bare-bones app that did nothing but change the clear colour and scrolled a bitmap across the screen.  With the glBitmap call commented out it works fine, with it in it locks the first time you ALT+TAB and doesn't recover.

LWJGL just pushes the data stright to the driver for this call, so I guess it's a driver problem.  Arse.

Damn you, S3! (shakes fist)

[princec]

Take your S3 card out of your computer, if it's a desktop.
Smash it to bits with a hammer.
Buy a Geforce.
Worth every penny, plus the satisfaction of smashing hardware up that didn't behave. Double win!

Cas

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[Matzon]

uh uh - Radeon 9500 Pro (nothing less)

I am *very* happy about my 9700!

</flamesuit>

[cfmdobbie]

Unfortunately it's a laptop.  I'm very happy with this machine (Toshiba Satellite 2800-400), but I do have a few complaints:

1. WinME sucks
2. It only has an 8MB graphics system
3. The battery monitoring app misbehaves - when it says 41% remaining you actually have 1% remaining...
4. Toshiba's driver support is pretty dire
5. WinME sucks
6. The modem is a Lucent WinModem
7. You can direct video out to a TV, but it disables that function if you try to play a DVD!
8. WinME sucks
9. S3's OpenGL support is IMHO pretty dire

My desktop currently has a 32MB GeForce256 in it, but I'm going to buy a whole new machine as soon as Doom3 comes out.

So I'm rather living in the stone age.  Well, three years ago or so anyway...

[jbanes]

Get an iBook. GeForce2Go, really nice hardware, good looking interface, great keyboard, and starting at only $999 to boot! If and when I get a laptop, those are what I've got my eye on. And LWJGL will work, even if I have to port it myself!

[cfmdobbie]

And (Aargh!) only one mouse button!

Naa, I'm staying with Intel/AMD for now.  I don't personally see that much of a benefit for me with going to Apple.  WinME is really a stopgap on this machine, as Linux hardware support for (Aargh!) my S3 chip is still a bit flakey by all accounts.

[erikd]

TBH, I had less problems with my S3 Savage 4 than my current gForce4 Ti4200 once S3 fixed the drivers (which were about 15% of the gForce driver's size so a lot easier on my dial-up connection).
Especially openGL worked great on it and faster than a gforce2 MX.

[jbanes]

And (Aargh!) only one mouse button!

That's what you think. The first thing programmers do when they get a Mac, is to go out and buy a two button mouse. IIRC, Apple makes some, but you can use a Microsoft or other brand mouse if you like. Trust me, it's not a show stopper.

Here are the iBooks. They have ATI Radeons:

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/71401/wo/XB7rH3xd2AQo2Ox3cy41p17yrwn/1.3.0.3.27.29.0.0.1.0.3.1.1.0?117,92

And here are the PowerBooks with Geforce4 2GO:

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/71401/wo/XB7rH3xd2AQo2Ox3cy41p17yrwn/1.3.0.3.27.33.0.0.1.0.3.1.1.0?126,67

[cfmdobbie]

Ah, but I can use my Intel-based laptop without plugging in a mouse.  Seems a bit silly to only include one button, if everyone goes out and buys a two or three button mouse immediately...

And anyway, I can play all my games on mine.  Well, apart from Black and White, Q3A and Alien Flux... :-/

...But I don't want to get into a Mac vs. Intel flame war.  I'm very happy with the hardware, it's just WinME and Toshiba/S3's graphics drivers that are at fault!

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[princec]

I can't wait for Gregory to finish the Mac port I'd really like to see A.F. on the Mac!

edit: Shit! I forgot they've only got one button! What default keys should I use for the Mac? Button = shoot or button = move? And which key would be the other control?

Cas

[Exocet]

Well the one button mouse only really sucks if you are used to a scroll button.  But don't fear all of the other mouse clicks are emulated... cmd+mouseclick for the right button... ahh the days on end of Warcraft and Starcraft... The other buttons are modified with the option and control keys... which Java does on the mac implementation... it is just a question how it is set up on the hardware.. but I'm sure gregory can add it to the mac implementation of the lwjgl mouse code.  

[cfmdobbie]

God forbid you ever want to move and shoot at the same time...

[jbanes]

edit: Shit! I forgot they've only got one button! What default keys should I use for the Mac? Button = shoot or button = move? And which key would be the other control?

*Chuckle*. IIRC, I tried to remind you in a previous thread. It seems to have gotten lost in the noise. My suggestion is, if and when you add keyboard control, make fire the default for Macs and they'll use the keyboard to navigate. (You'll need a menu option to switch config for those who do have two buttons tho)

[princec]

Ah yes, I do remember you mentioned that a while back.

Cas

[ap_kelly]

How about double click is "move to this location" and single click is fire.

Perhaps that may not work too well if you start firing like crazy though.

$0.02

Andy.

[cfmdobbie]

Hmm, well that does rather change the game mechanics somewhat...

Well, when the Mac input libraries are written I'm sure the right decision will be made on whether to emulate multiple buttons at that point or leave it to the application to notice only one button available and work around it.  I have faith!

It is a tad annoying though - just shows you should develop for the lowest common denominator and not presume two mouse buttons, or a 32-bit display, or whatever.