AFlib2 Preview.

Adigun A. Polack · Posted: Sep 17, 2005 23:11 Post subject: AFlib2 Preview.

For those of you wondering about RelLib to be ported to FB, then hey, better look no further! ^_-=b I am so truly proud to introduce to you a preview of what could well be the most talked about “8-bit graphics library”-based wrapper for Angelo Mottola’s GFXlib2: AFlib2, or Aura Flow Library 2, based upon the potentially many original implementations of RelLib from QB itself, straight to FreeBASIC!!!

This one promises to be a grand successor to both the original AFlib (released for QB from at least three years back!) and even RelLib itself!! Take a daring look at these shots:

......and this is just the beginning already!! :D

I, Adigun Azikiwe Polack, am the official and current developer of this newest library wrapper for Aura Flow, the game development group behind the forthcoming FB shmup Frantic Journey! And right now, I have already started the creation of AFlib2, and so far it has:

Translucent Pixels

Translucent Filled Boxes

Wu-lines

Wu-pixels

At least five (5) custom 8x8 fonts, each with custom italicization and scaling

.....and we are *only* warming up!!! ^_- !

Next in the development of this, I am gonna plan on get the 8-bit sprite routines (translucent-, one-color-, and collision-based) from the Space Impakto demo to fit into this forthcoming new lib. And AFlib2 so far is not gonna even be released until it is all completely finished and ready. Also, please do not ask me for the source code to this lib because I am working on adding the new implementations to it to be eventually ready for release indeed when it comes.

However, I am gonna need your help and support on this one, to please provide me the ideas/routines for the following to be placed into AFlib2:

8-bit gamma sprites

8-bit sprite scaling/rotation ala CosmoX/QB

8-bit screen smoothing/anti-aliasing

8-bit water effects

.......and any working ASM code(s) inside of a FreeBASIC source code that are based on either of them are truly well appreciated!!! :D After all, this is a group effort, and I am flat determined to make this lib a most successful one in FreeBASIC just like RelLib did for QuickBASIC!!!

Thank you all so very much, and I hope you enjoyed this beautiful little preview! ;)

MystikShadows · Sr. Member

Ahh haa...I was wondering what you were up to these days...this awesome preview just answered my question(s) ;-)

What can I say, I think that AFLib, from the preview I see here, is definitaly on it's way to fulfilling it's promises and expectations. And also, I might add that you seem to be in good control over the progress Adigun. You're a natural at that too right? like your graphical talents? ;-).

Keep the awesome work and I can't wait to see it in action :-)

{Nathan} · Sr. Member

Hurry up... please... I need this...

Adigun A. Polack · Last edited by Adigun A. Polack on Mar 13, 2006 22:03; edited 2 times in total

To MystikShadows and Nathan1993:

I want to let you both know right now that this AFlib2 lib is a group project and that it takes a *plenty* lot of good time and even some rather careful optimizations before it can ever get released, so do be patient please. ;-) We’ll get there, as I have only got started.

Speaking of which, here is some more progress that just now inched its way in here as we speak:

Yep, that is right. Translucent lines (THANKS a lot for your original line drawing algo to inspire me in this, Dr_Davenstein!! ^-^=b ! ), and translucent circles. Also, since I do not know any proper ASM at all at the moment, I will do whatever I can in pure FB to optimize things in this lib. And once more, it will take some time indeed, so hang on! :D

And MystikShadows, I thank you so richly much for your splendidly good comments about this lib that I am currently working on. Well appreciated it truly is, really! (^_-)//

1000101 · Hero

I hate to burst your bubble, but some much better already exists and is more useful: OpenGL

Not only is OpenGL available on every OS, it's hardware accelerated and developed by people with doctorates in computer science and electronics engineering.

I suggest looking at what's available before developing something which no-one will ever use.

MystikShadows · Sr. Member

I'm affraid we don't all share your opinion 1000101 Not to mention that AFLIB is not destined to those that would rather use Open GL. Many of the QB programmers don't care about making 3D programs and I do mean many, and in that regards, AFLIB will definitaly be worth it for them. With the additions that are being planned it will also broaden it's range.

Open GL and AFLIB are two very independant libraries. They are not meant to compete, they are not meant to overlap in anyway either. The project that inspired AFLIB was a very popular library at the time, and there's already many people that seem to be impatiently waiting for it to be ready. :-)

So please, before stating no one will ever use something, do the research and make sure you know enough about the project before making a conclusion about it :-).

dumbledore · Sr. Member

opengl does 2d stuff too ;)
but i agree, aflib will be good for people who use rellib in qb.

1000101 · Hero

Pritchard · Guru

We must also remember, that people that used the library back in the old QB days are used to a format that they don't want to leave.

Remember, true programming is in happiness not learning a faster program meant to do this and that.

A programmer who knows of the library that inspired this would be very happy to use this program. It's unbelievable how happy a few of us would be on the release date of this lib.

1000101, you should think about that a bit as well ^_^ It seems like you have little information on how popular that library was, and how it touched our souls with it's release.

Plasma · Posted: Sep 20, 2005 3:44 Post subject:

I have never used AFlib, so I can't comment on the speed, but the 85 fps is probably because it's waiting for vsync.

Adigun A. Polack · Posted: Sep 20, 2005 4:46 Post subject: Let’s discuss this a little bit here.

Plasma, you are exactly correct. I did use Vsync indeed during the graphics tests for the forthcoming AFlib2 so far, which may very well explain the 85FPS speed there.

Look, I can remember that so many, many of us QBers indeed (including me, no less! ^-^=b ! ) were first blown away in such awe by RelLib in QB back in around 2001 and by each newer and newer release since then, too. I mean, I was inspired by it so very deeply, and by the recent Space Impakto demo in FB from during just this past summer, that I was simply like “Hey, LET’S JUST DO THIS IN FB!!”, you know what I mean? :D

And without question, this is where the birth of AFlib2 comes into the development framework here.

As for you now Pritchard, about what you said on your most recent reply which was:

Nodtveidt · Sr. Member

If it's doing 85fps waiting for vsync, then obviously it's good enough to render every frame at that size. But is that the only resolution it can handle?

1000101 · Hero

mambazo · Sr. Member

Did anyone read the QB Express 14? See that letter from Matt2Jones?

If you don't like peas then don't eat them.

Plasma · Posted: Sep 20, 2005 16:41 Post subject: