Editors Note: The original patch was modified to use SDL_Delay() instead of nanosleep because nanosleep may not be portable to all systems using SDL with the ALSA backend. This may be a moot point with the switch to blocking writes anyway... Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2003 21:47:36 +0100 From: Michel Daenzer To: Debian Bug Tracking System Subject: [SDL] Bug#225252: [PATCH] ALSA fixes Package: libsdl1.2debian-all Version: 1.2.6-2 Severity: normal Tags: patch For SDL 1.2.6, the ALSA backend was changed to call snd_pcm_open() with SND_PCM_NONBLOCK. That's a good idea per se, however, it causes high CPU usage, interrupted sound and stuttering in some games here. Taking a nanosleep whenever snd_pcm_writei() returns -EAGAIN fixes this, but I think it's more efficient to use blocking mode for the actual sound playback. Feedback from the SDL and ALSA lists appreciated. The patch also fixes the default ALSA device to be used.

To compile and install SDL:

    1.  Run './configure; make; make install'

        If you are cross-compiling from Linux to Win32, you should read
        the file README.Win32

        If you are compiling using Visual C++ on Win32, you should read
        the file VisualC.html

    2.  Look at the example programs in ./test, and check out the HTML
        documentation in ./docs to see how to use the SDL library.

    3.  Join the SDL developer mailing list by sending E-mail to
    	sdl-request@libsdl.org
        and put "subscribe" in the subject of the message.

        Or alternatively you can use the web interface:
            http://www.libsdl.org/mailing-list.php

That's it!
Sam Lantinga <slouken@libsdl.org>