SDL_perl 1.x has languished for a long time, unmaintained because SDL_Perl 2.x was available. Unfortunately, SDL_Perl 2.x has a number of long-standing problems, including incompatibility with the most popular programs using SDL_perl 1.x, build problems on Win32, very slow release cycles, and so on. On many systems, SDL_perl 1.x is the only available SDL binding for Perl.

In light of this, Wayne Keenan (wayne #.# keenan #@# gmail #.# com) has resurrected SDL_perl 1.x as an actively maintained and updated code base, starting with the Debian source for SDL_perl as of version 1.20.3-1. Wayne has asked me to host his SDL_perl releases here.

SDL_perl 1.20.3 still had a number of bugs and limitations, which Wayne is steadily working through. Please let us know if you find any bugs in the current release, or would like to request a feature be added or limitation removed. Please copy both Wayne and I on any SDL_perl related emails, so that he can work on the fixes, and I can document known problems here.

NEW! The SDL_perl 1.x development tree is now publicly available for browsing or for Subversion access; see below for details. You can also now reach us at irc.freenode.net #sdlperl.

NOTE: I have fixed the corrupted tarballs in the PPM repository. These were the result of problems during the conversion from CVS to Subversion for this website's repository. You should be able to try again now and get clean files.

Changes

1.20.5 (2005-05-20)

Win32 only. Win32 binaries are now provided exclusively as PPM packages. Includes a new API for accessing the examples and sample resources across operating systems. Because of the new functionality, after this point we intend to support all operating systems at least in source tarball form (at least those supported by SDL_perl 1.x in the past). We had hoped to include that support with this release, but unfortunately found some last-minute issues.

1.20.4 (not released)

Win32 only. Merges my patches for Debian's 1.20.3-1 tree; fixes a few other obvious issues; begins transition from hand-rolled installer program to standard PPM support on Win32. Includes experimental automatic support for OpenGL extensions, based on Intel's GLsdk library.

1.20.3 (2005-05-11)

Win32 only. Uses Debian's 1.20.3-1 source tree to catch up with old bug fixes and missing functions. Installs with the same install method as the first release. First version to completely support the sample code from my Building a 3D Engine in Perl articles.

1.20.x (2005-04-06)

Win32 only. First new 1.x build, just to make sure that Wayne's old build and install procedure works on recent Win32 and that OpenGL functionality is working at least minimally. Uses an old buggy copy of the SDL_perl source tree, packaged using a self-extracting install program.

Downloads

SDL_perl 1.x Repository

SDL_perl 1.x is now available using Subversion on OpenFoundry; the tree may also be browsed online. If you would like commit access to the repository, please drop me an email, or contact me on irc.freenode.net #sdlperl, and I'd be happy to invite you to the project.

SDL_perl 1.20.5: Win32 .ppd (1K + 1.7 MB)

SDL_perl 1.x is available in pre-built PPD/tarball form for the Perl Package Manager under ActivePerl 5.8 on Win32. Win32 users should be able to use the following command to install SDL_perl:

ppm install http://www.broadwell.org/dl/ppm/5.8/win32/SDL_perl.ppd

If you already have an older SDL_perl installed on your Win32 system, please uninstall it before installing this build. If your previous build was installed using the self-extracting installer, first run the graphical uninstaller using the SDL_perl program group uninstaller icon, then uninstall again (because of bugs in the old uninstaller) using this command:

ppm uninstall http://www.broadwell.org/dl/ppm/5.8/win32/SDL_perl.ppd