[MiNT] Bit-Depth and Graphics stuff....

[m0n0 <ole@monochrom.net>]

Hello to the list,

Probably this is a bit off-topic, - I hope no one minds. 

I'm currently thinking about an more GEM-like interface for NetSurf
browser.
But I'm a bit stuck with Graphics stuff. I'm not experienced with Atari
Graphics...

I don't have an "extended graphics" Atari like the hades or TT with an gfx
card. 
My main target for netsurf is the Firebee, but I would like to have
compatibiliy with hades, CTPCI falcons and all the other High-End
Atari's... 

VDI offers no interface for True-Color mode, at least that's how I
understand it.  
One thing clear: I don't wanted Atari-Netsruf to depend on NVDI (it
doesn't support True-Color, anway).

So I was looking for examples on how it could be done. 

The most generic way seems to be SDL (altough I don't know if it work to
blit the SDL surface into an GEM Window). 
However this also need's pixel conversion routines - currently NetSurf
only works correctly in 16Bit mode - but with any native bitdepth. 
I think SDL contains code for conversion from "real" pixel formats...(VGA
like) to planar - so I wouldn't need to care about that.

Does anybody know how software has supported such range of high/true color
hardware?
Even If I limit myself to 8/16/32 bit colors, there will be different
pixel encodings ( Chunks, planar, endianes...).
To me this sounds like a big load of work.  
highwire is one reference for this... But the code is Atari-Elite stuff ;)


Altough It's summer, and I'm not going to code much for this issue, I
think reading something that will increase my knowledge is appropriate.
I suppose most demo coder articles will mostly care about the lower
resolutions. It's a bit hard to read that, if I can't see how it would
support the final destination. 

Anyone can suggest readings/example source which could help? 

Greets & thanks,
Ole