Questions by a newbie

[migizi]

I have some questions about SFML that I can't seem to find answers to. I'll start by explaining what I want to do first, maybe that will help put things in context.

I've been doing some game dev on and off for a few years. Nothing finished yet, but all my work has been 3D with OpenGL. I've decided that my next venture will be into a 2D isometric graphics style. I also want to use Sprite Lamp once it's released on Linux.

So here are my questions.

• SFML can do 2D out of the box, correct?
• Is SFML hardware accelerated by default, even with 2D?
• Is the community pretty active?
• Is the documentation complete?
• Is SFML pretty easy to learn?

Here is what I've used in the past.
Unity (when I used Windows)
GLFW (writing everything from scratch)
C4 engine
I use C++ on a daily basis and know OpenGL (3.2 core profile and up) but I'm no wizard at it.
I only use Linux.

I'm also looking to pickup the SFML book that came out awhile ago to get started.

[Jesper Juhl]

• SFML can do 2D out of the box, correct?
• Is SFML hardware accelerated by default, even with 2D?
• Is the community pretty active?
• Is the documentation complete?
• Is SFML pretty easy to learn?

...
I'm also looking to pickup the SFML book that came out awhile ago to get started.

For the bullet points:
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.

For the "read the book bit":
Yes. Do that. And read the official tutorials as well - they are really good.

[migizi]

Well that was a mighty fast response. Glad to hear yes on all the questions. I do see there is an IRC room so I may have to join that as well.

[Jesper Juhl]

Start by reading all the tutorials once. Top to bottom.
Then read them again and try to write some toy code to do whatever each tutorial is about.
Once you are done with that I'll wager that you'll have a pretty OK grasp of SFML and can start building whatever it really is you want to build.

[migizi]

I wouldn't worry about me not taking my time learning it. I don't like to jump into something head first. I find the best way to really understand a library and/or language is to spend time learning it and reading about it before using it for production.

Hell years of C++ use and every time I read a book by Bjarne Stroustrup I find I still know very little compared to others.

[Jesper Juhl]

I was just trying to suggest an easy road for you to travel. It wouldn't even take you more than an evening or two