A couple questions

[punkrockguy318]

I have a couple questions. Answer any of them please if you know.

1) What is an API I can use for Window Creation and a Message Loop for Linux? How about a tutorial and a book on it?

2) What is a linux alternative to DirectInput?

3) What IDE's do you reccomend for Linux?

4) Where can I find a guide on GCC command line?

5) Can I use DirectX in Linux? I've heard WINE can convert calls at compile time

6) Is it possible to make any money charging money for Linux games? What are your thoughts on doing that?

Thanks for your time, I'd really like some answers!

[joshdick]

3) Dev-Cpp

6) Very unlikely. Most gamers don't use Linux. Linux users are pretty used to free software.

[XSquared]

>>3) Dev-Cpp
Dev-C++ is Win32. Things like Emacs or Vim are the more common IDEs in Linux.

[golfinguy4]

What's your Window Manager? Anjuta is good for GNOME. KDevelop is good for KDE.

[JLPence]

I don't know dick about windows, so if my head is up my ass it's because I'm guessing. Caveat emptor.

(1) Either GTK or QT. GTK is used for Gnome and is best used with C, QT is used for KDE and is best used with C++. When I get to the point where I'm ready to start some GUI programming I'm personally going to go with GTK because (a) I prefer C and (b) I just feel like it. *shrugs*

Tutorials are aplenty for both, do your own google search. I ain't yo daddy. :P

(2) Want to answer this but I don't believe I know enough to do so.

(3) GNU Emacs. It's hell to learn and will take you ages to get proficient in it, but once you do anything else will aggrivate the hell out of you.

(4) Type "man gcc" in shell.

(5) Let go of your borg implants, boy! The longer you hang on to the Microsoft way the more GNU/Linux will fustrate the hell out of you. You aren't in Kansas anymore. New operating system, new interface, new way of doing things. I mean it, this is the #1 reason people get fustrated and give up on Linux - they expect a windows that is not windows instead of accepting that they're on a new OS. This is to the effect of getting a new girlfriend and expecting her to be just like your ex; it just doesn't work.

(6) Deep subject. I have to go with both yes and no at the same time. There's two sides to this in my eyes - the Free and the practical.

The Free - I must admit that I am a big fan of Richard Stallman. The man is human, in some ways he's dead on and in other ways he's way the hell off. But he has the seed of Free software in him, he is the Genesis, our father so to speak.

His main teachings is that software should be Free as in 'Free Speech'. The software one runs on his computer is his to do with as he pleases. I should be able to have the source open to me so I may fix bugs and add to the program to make it better. I should have absolutely no restrictions placed upon me when it comes to how I use the software. If my friend likes the software then I should be free to give him a copy. In return for these freedoms I must respect the freedom of others. That is, should I distribute the program (modified or otherwise) then I need to provide the source just as it has been provided for me. And so on, with the rules listed above. For more info read the GNU GPL over at http://www.gnu.org/

Note that Free as in speech does not equal free as in beer. You can sell Free software as long as you abide with the freedoms above. (Reread the "give to friends" line.) However, most companies don't just sell the software. Take RedHat or SuSE, for example. I'm running a (heavily upgraded and modified) copy of SuSE that I got from a friend who paid for it. I got three burned CDs. My friend who paid for it got 3 pressed CDs with jewel cases, a very nice manual,
tech support, and a pretty box. I must admit, if I had the money I'd prolly buy it myself.

I bring all this up because I'm not the only fan of Stallman's writings. There's a LOT of GNU/Linux users who are rather iffy about using non-Free software. I mean hey, I'm Free! I'm not running X dozen pirated programs anymore, my computer is my own to do with, and I'm enjoying every byte of it. If you release a game under Linux it's probabally best to GPL that sucker and include a lot of crap that you can't copy onto a CD (such as access to game servers, etc).

The practical - In one hand I have my beliefs about Free software, in the other I can run Unreal Tournament. Hmm... Free... Unreal Tournament... Free... Unreal Tournament... hard decision, no?

I remember reading on Slashdot a few months ago that on average Linux users are far more likely to buy a native game than Windows users. It might be that there's less games to choose from. It might be that we like to support our favorite OS. It might be that the average Linux user is far more computer literate than your average Windows drone and thus more likely to be a game player. Who knows? The end result is that your chances of having your game noticed is a lot greater in Linux than it is in Windows. What can I say, Linux *really* needs more people porting their games for us.

However, in the end I keep thinking to myself "If you want to make money making games then why the hell would you go for the OS with the 1% market share? Go for the one with the 95% market share."

Forgive me for rambling at the end. I got bored and lost track of myself. Man, I just wrote a novel. Sorry.