OpenGL Windows Screensaver Under Linux? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

SecretMethod70 · 10-19-2003, 07:18 PM

This is a call out to those good Linux coders out there. See, I've got this AWESOME OpenGL screensaver for Windows that I'd LOVE to find a way to run under Linux. It's from http://www.uselesscreations.com/matrix/ but it's the pay version. It's truly a great screensaver and I hope there's a awy to do it. I figure since it uses OpenGL that it's probably possible in some way or another, but I'm not sure how. Anyone have any ideas? If it requires any ercoding or anything and you think you may be able to do it, I'd be more than happy to provide you with the proper files. Thanks!

charliex · 10-19-2003, 10:50 PM

well its a windows exe so without recoding it, youd have to use wine or something.

Moskie · 10-19-2003, 11:14 PM

I think your first step would have to be to try and get the creator of it (looks to be Rob@UselessCreations.com) to give you the OpenGL source code for it. He might not want to, but give it a shot. I'm sure someone could then get it to work as a Linux screen save w/o too much trouble.

oberon · 10-20-2003, 12:33 AM

Since it's a Windows executable, it uses an entirely different set of libraries, binary format, etc. etc. In short, it'd never work as is on any other OS.

OpenGL is just an API spec. Once you've compiled a program using an implementation of OpenGL, it can only be run on the OS it was compiled on (binary format) with that OpenGL library (library references).

Hell, man, we'd never have problems getting people to consider alternative OS's if Windows apps ran fine on them!

I agree with Moskie.. the best shot is to ask the creator to open-source his code. Then hope some cool geek ports it to use X11/Mesa, or integrates it into xlockmore or xscreensaver or something.

SecretMethod70 · 10-20-2003, 08:47 AM

Thanks for the responses. I was hoping since the file for screensavers are .scr rather than .exe it might be easier, but I figured it probably wasn't. Guess I was right

I'll try e-mailing the guy, but I doubt he'd be very willing especially considering it's a screensaver you have to pay for.

Moskie · 10-20-2003, 09:37 AM

Maybe the first question you should ask, is if he's willing/able to port it to Linux himself. Tell him you're willing to buy the screensaver if it works for Linux, and maybe he'll do it.

charliex · 10-21-2003, 12:32 AM

FYI scr's are just renamed .exe's

oberon · 10-21-2003, 06:17 AM

Offering $ is a good way to encourage small-time folks like these to port stuff. If you ask, one of three things could happen:
1) They'll say no.
2) They'll do it.
3) They'll decide to poll and see how much could be made off it.

If they don't use Linux or don't see the point in trying, you're probably out of luck.

meff · 10-21-2003, 08:11 AM

What?

Better than xscreensaver's bouncing balls?

SecretMethod70 · 10-22-2003, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by meff
What?

Better than xscreensaver's bouncing balls?

hahahaha actually there are some REALLY awesome openGL screensavers out there for Linux - thing about this one though is that it's a really cool 3D Matrix screensaver.

strcrssd · 10-23-2003, 06:39 PM

There's a very good 3D Matrix screen saver available on the latest versions of XScreenSaver (possibly only CVS versions).

It does a lot of what the other screen saver appears to do (moving through the code streams)

It does not appear to render images in the code...

SecretMethod70 · 10-23-2003, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by _*x_
There's a very good 3D Matrix screen saver available on the latest versions of XScreenSaver (possibly only CVS versions).

It does a lot of what the other screen saver appears to do (moving through the code streams)

It does not appear to render images in the code...

Very very cool - I don't like the image rendering feature anyways

Thanks for the info!

10-19-2003, 07:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	OpenGL Windows Screensaver Under Linux? This is a call out to those good Linux coders out there. See, I've got this AWESOME OpenGL screensaver for Windows that I'd LOVE to find a way to run under Linux. It's from http://www.uselesscreations.com/matrix/ but it's the pay version. It's truly a great screensaver and I hope there's a awy to do it. I figure since it uses OpenGL that it's probably possible in some way or another, but I'm not sure how. Anyone have any ideas? If it requires any ercoding or anything and you think you may be able to do it, I'd be more than happy to provide you with the proper files. Thanks! __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

10-19-2003, 11:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Moskie Pure Chewing Satisfaction Location: can i use bbcode [i]here[/i]?	I think your first step would have to be to try and get the creator of it (looks to be Rob@UselessCreations.com) to give you the OpenGL source code for it. He might not want to, but give it a shot. I'm sure someone could then get it to work as a Linux screen save w/o too much trouble. __________________ Greetings and salutations.

10-20-2003, 12:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
oberon Quadrature Amplitude Modulator Location: Denver	Since it's a Windows executable, it uses an entirely different set of libraries, binary format, etc. etc. In short, it'd never work as is on any other OS. OpenGL is just an API spec. Once you've compiled a program using an implementation of OpenGL, it can only be run on the OS it was compiled on (binary format) with that OpenGL library (library references). Hell, man, we'd never have problems getting people to consider alternative OS's if Windows apps ran fine on them! I agree with Moskie.. the best shot is to ask the creator to open-source his code. Then hope some cool geek ports it to use X11/Mesa, or integrates it into xlockmore or xscreensaver or something. __________________ "There are finer fish in the sea than have ever been caught." -- Irish proverb

10-20-2003, 08:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
SecretMethod70 Human Administrator Location: Chicago	Thanks for the responses. I was hoping since the file for screensavers are .scr rather than .exe it might be easier, but I figured it probably wasn't. Guess I was right I'll try e-mailing the guy, but I doubt he'd be very willing especially considering it's a screensaver you have to pay for. __________________ Le temps détruit tout "Musicians are the carriers and communicators of spirit in the most immediate sense." - Kurt Elling

10-20-2003, 09:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
Moskie Pure Chewing Satisfaction Location: can i use bbcode [i]here[/i]?	Maybe the first question you should ask, is if he's willing/able to port it to Linux himself. Tell him you're willing to buy the screensaver if it works for Linux, and maybe he'll do it. __________________ Greetings and salutations. Last edited by Moskie; 10-21-2003 at 09:23 AM..

10-19-2003, 10:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
charliex Junkie Location: North Hollywood	well its a windows exe so without recoding it, youd have to use wine or something.

10-21-2003, 12:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
charliex Junkie Location: North Hollywood	FYI scr's are just renamed .exe's

10-21-2003, 06:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
oberon Quadrature Amplitude Modulator Location: Denver	Offering $ is a good way to encourage small-time folks like these to port stuff. If you ask, one of three things could happen: 1) They'll say no. 2) They'll do it. 3) They'll decide to poll and see how much could be made off it. If they don't use Linux or don't see the point in trying, you're probably out of luck. __________________ "There are finer fish in the sea than have ever been caught." -- Irish proverb

10-21-2003, 08:11 AM	#9 (permalink)
meff Vanishing, like I do.. Location: Austin, TX	What? Better than xscreensaver's bouncing balls? __________________ Toy-like people make me boy-like.

10-23-2003, 06:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
strcrssd Insane Location: Rio Grande Valley, Texas	There's a very good 3D Matrix screen saver available on the latest versions of XScreenSaver (possibly only CVS versions). It does a lot of what the other screen saver appears to do (moving through the code streams) It does not appear to render images in the code... __________________ "I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones." -- John Cage (1912 - 1992)