The first release of the LDL multimedia library (Little DirectMedia Layer) is now available. This library has been developed with the aim of supporting outdated equipment. LDL provides a simple cross-platform API for working with 2D graphics, controlling windows, and OS events. It is particularly suitable for the development of simple games and multimedia applications. The library is already being used in the development of an alternative open game engine for the game Arcanum.
The LDL library is written in C++98 and is distributed under the BSL 1.0 license (Boost Software License).
The author of the LDL library pays great attention to optimizing it for obsolete platforms and creating a single portable C++ API that can be used across various operating systems (an API is additionally provided for programs in SI). Currently, the library has support for Linux (Debian 3+) and Windows (Windows 95+).
The library also provides rendering support on the GPU using OpenGL 1.2 and OpenGL 3.0, as well as software rendering using CPU resources. The drawing method can be dynamically changed during runtime. Linux is supported by XLIB, and there are ongoing efforts in the development of support for the Wayland protocol. The library also includes functions for working with sound and supports loading various image formats (BMP, PNG, TGA, JPG).
Future plans for the LDL library include adding support for drawing using Direct3D 9/10/11, streaming sound playback, text output using the Freetype library, an API for working with streams and network. Additionally, there are plans to port the library to Android, iOS, and MacOS platforms.
