events and malloc in QB64?

[SpriggsySpriggs]

@FellippeHeitor Exactly. I'm actually using callback code shared by Petr here: https://www.qb64.org/forum/index.php?topic=3217.msg124966#msg124966

[madscijr]

@madscijr Just so you know that I didn't forget you, here is proof that I'm looking into this:
Note: This isn't to say I've gotten anything to work yet. I'm still just trying to recreate some functions and declarations.

Great - much appreciated!

PS Sorry I wasn't able to join on the discord server (what is a discord server?), I'm often pretty busy after hours on weekdays, this QB stuff is mainly a lunchtime activity for me!

[FellippeHeitor]

Discord is a fancy chatroom. Registration required. http://discord.qb64.org

[madscijr]

Discord is a fancy chatroom. Registration required. http://discord.qb64.org

Cool, thanks for cluing me in.

[madscijr]

PPS Down the road (assuming this ever ends up working) it would be cool to also get this working for Linux / macOS.

I'm not sure if there are commands in QB64 code that can auto-detect the OS, and conditionally use Windows / Linux / Mac versions of a library, or if we would just need to have separate versions of the library for each OS.
But the ManyMouse library seems to be cross-platform, with separate versions of code for

• Windows (windows_wminput.c)
• Linux (linux_evdev.c)
• macOS (macosx_hidmanager.c, macosx_hidutilities.c)

and common files for all platforms

• manymouse.c
• manymouse.h

I just thought I would mention this to gauge how people approach making a cross-platform library in QB64...

[SpriggsySpriggs]

I'm not sure if there are commands in QB64 code that can auto-detect the OS, and conditionally use Windows / Linux / Mac versions of a library, or if we would just need to have separate versions of the library for each OS.

There are! Check out this Wiki page: https://www.qb64.org/wiki/$IF

[madscijr]

There are! Check out this Wiki page: https://www.qb64.org/wiki/$IF

Aha, yes, that's the stuff!
Thanks!
(Now we would just need someone who can understand Mac "C" code and Linux "C" code to help convert the respective modules! I'm not going to worry about this until later...)

[SpriggsySpriggs]

(Now we would just need someone who can understand Mac "C" code and Linux "C" code to help convert the respective modules! I'm not going to worry about this until later...)

Well, I have written code that is multiplatform before which required me to convert C code for Linux and Mac to QB64. Not too much of a challenge. I'll give that a go if I can get some functionality in Windows first.

[SpriggsySpriggs]

@madscijr Well, it turns out that this software you want to recreate or use in QB64 requires SDL. Our older versions of QB64 use SDL. I'm trying now to find a way to do what you want without SDL. May prove difficult

[madscijr]

@madscijr Well, it turns out that this software you want to recreate or use in QB64 requires SDL. Our older versions of QB64 use SDL. I'm trying now to find a way to do what you want without SDL. May prove difficult

No kidding... So THAT's how they're doing it cross-platform?
I saw stuff in there about the Raw Input API, though.
I think that's a standard Microsoft API included in all Windows versions from XP on.
With that, we shouldn't need SDL for the Windows version, right?

PS Here are the MS RawInput API docs:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/inputdev/raw-input?redirectedfrom=MSDN

PPS and here is some sample code to use the RawInput API (yet more C code I can flounder around with and try to convert to QB64! yay!):
https://jstookey.com/multiple-mice-raw-input/

[SpriggsySpriggs]

@madscijr Exactly. I've been looking at some raw input examples online.

https://asawicki.info/news_1533_handling_multiple_mice_with_raw_input

[madscijr]

@madscijr Exactly. I've been looking at some raw input examples online.
https://asawicki.info/news_1533_handling_multiple_mice_with_raw_input

From my end, I think starting off simple is probably the best way to get off the ground, so I started off by figuring out the minimal example from
https://jstookey.com/multiple-mice-raw-input/

Hopefully tomorrow I'll get something working...

Code: C: [Select]

1. /**********************************************************************************************
2. FROM: https://jstookey.com/arcade/rawmouse/HelloRawInput.c
3.  
4. testmouse.c: A demonstration of how to use Rawinput to access multiple mice in Windows XP.
5.  
6. ------------------  COMPILING WITH GCC ------------------------------
7.  
8. This program was compiled using MinGW/GCC
9.  
10. In order to recreate the compile environment:
11.  
12.   1) Install the "Win32 compile utilities" (MinGW/GCC) for Mame from http://www.mame.net/downmain.html
13.   2) From the command line, run "gcc HelloRawInput.c"
14.  
15. -------------------  COMPILING WITH MS VISUAL C++ --------------------
16.  
17. This example can also be compiled with Microsoft Visual C++ version 6, but first you need to download
18.         and install the Microsoft Platform SDK.  In order to access the Microsoft Platform SDK from VStudio,
19.         I had to go to tools->options->directories and add the SDK's bin, include, lib, and src folders.
20.         In the same window, I had drag each of the SDK's folders to the top of the respective list
21.         to give those folders priority over the others.
22.  
23.         To create your project for Visual Studio (after you prepare VStudio to work with the MS
24.              Platform SDK), do the following:
25.  
26.         1) Open Visual C++ and start a new Win32 Application as a "blank project"
27.            (This is necessary because if you simply open the .c file in VStudio
28.            VStudio will assume it's a "console application" and it won't compile properly.)
29.         2) Copy the .c file into the new project's root folder
30.         3) In the left pane, click "File View" and left click "Source Files" and select
31.              "add files to folder" from the popup menu, and add your file.
32.         4) You're all set!  Press f5 to build the program.
33.  
34. **********************************************************************************************/
35. #define _WIN32_WINNT 0x0501   // Identify this as a Windows XP application.  This is necessary
36.                                                           //    so we can access rawinput
37. #include <stdio.h>
38. #include <conio.h>                      //  Provides getch()
39. #include <windows.h>            //  Provides rawinput
40.  
41. main()
42. {
43.         UINT nInputDevices;
44.  
45.         // 1st call to GetRawInputDeviceList: Pass NULL to get the size of the list.
46.         if (GetRawInputDeviceList(NULL, &nInputDevices, sizeof(RAWINPUTDEVICELIST)) != 0) return 0;
47.         printf("Number of raw input devices: %i\n\n", nInputDevices);
48.  
49.         printf("Press any key...");
50.         getch();
51.  
52.         return 1;
53. }
54.  
55.  
56. /*
57.  
58. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
59. What is GetRawInputDeviceList?
60.         UINT GetRawInputDeviceList(
61.           PRAWINPUTDEVICELIST pRawInputDeviceList,
62.           PUINT               puiNumDevices,
63.           UINT                cbSize
64.         );
65.  
66. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
67. What is PRAWINPUTDEVICELIST?
68.         PRAWINPUTDEVICELIST:
69.         typedef struct tagRAWINPUTDEVICELIST {
70.           HANDLE hDevice;
71.           DWORD  dwType;
72.         } RAWINPUTDEVICELIST, *PRAWINPUTDEVICELIST;
73.  
74. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
75. What is getch?
76.         getch() is a nonstandard function and is present in conio.h header file
77.         which is mostly used by MS-DOS compilers like Turbo C. It is not part of
78.         the C standard library or ISO C, nor is it defined by POSIX.
79.         Like these functions, getch() also reads a single character from the
80.         keyboard. But it does not use any buffer, so the entered character is
81.         immediately returned without waiting for the enter key.
82.         Syntax: int getch(void);
83.         Parameters: This method does not accept any parameters.
84.         Return value: This method returns the ASCII value of the key pressed.
85.        
86. */
87.  

[madscijr]

From my end, I think starting off simple is probably the best way to get off the ground, so I started off by figuring out the minimal example from
https://jstookey.com/multiple-mice-raw-input/
Hopefully tomorrow I'll get something working...

I tried to convert the C code to QB64, using the QB64 equivalents of the C types that SpriggsySpriggs shared, and googling.
I'm currently stuck on line 55 of the below code, when I run the QB64 IDE says "Expected &H... or &O...".
When I try changing & to &H or &O, the QB64 IDE says a ")" is missing. No idea how to get this working!
Any help appreciated...

Code: QB64: [Select]

1. ' ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
2. ' testmouse.c: A demonstration of how to use Rawinput to access multiple mice in Windows XP.
3. ' https://jstookey.com/arcade/rawmouse/HelloRawInput.c
4. ' ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
5.  
6. ' #define _WIN32_WINNT 0x0501   // Identify this as a Windows XP application.
7. '                               // This is necessary so we can access rawinput
8. ' #include <stdio.h>            
9. ' #include <conio.h>            //  Provides getch()
10. ' #include <windows.h>          //  Provides rawinput
11.  
12. ' =============================================================================
13. ' GLOBAL DECLARATIONS a$=string, i%=integer, L&=long, s!=single, d#=double
14.  
15. ' -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. ' BOOLEAN CONSTANTS
17. CONST FALSE = 0
18. CONST TRUE = NOT FALSE
19.  
20. ' -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
21. ' USER DEFINED TYPES
22.  
23. ' What is PRAWINPUTDEVICELIST?
24. '     PRAWINPUTDEVICELIST:
25. '     typedef struct tagRAWINPUTDEVICELIST {
26. '       HANDLE hDevice;
27. '       DWORD  dwType;
28. '     } RAWINPUTDEVICELIST, *PRAWINPUTDEVICELIST;
29.  
30. TYPE RAWINPUTDEVICELIST
31.     hDevice AS _OFFSET ' a handle will always be _OFFSET
32.     dwType AS LONG ' DWORD corresponds to LONG
33. END TYPE
34.  
35. ' -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
36. ' API FUNCTIONS
37.  
38. ' What is GetRawInputDeviceList?
39. '     UINT GetRawInputDeviceList(
40. '       PRAWINPUTDEVICELIST pRawInputDeviceList,
41. '       PUINT               puiNumDevices,        <---- what is a aPUINT?
42. '       UINT                cbSize
43. '     );
44.  
45. ' what is a aPUINT? According to
46. '     WIN32 API Data Types
47. '     https://www.csie.ntu.edu.tw/~r92094/c++/w32api_data_type.html
48. ' PUINT Pointer to a UINT.
49. ' Q: What QB64 type is equivalent to a pointer?
50. ' A: is it _OFFSET ?
51.  
52. DECLARE DYNAMIC LIBRARY "kernel32"
53.     ' COMPILER ERROR HERE: Expected &H... or &O...
54.     ' THEN WHEN I TRY CHANGING & TO &H OR &O, COMPILER SAYS MISSING )
55.     FUNCTION GetRawInputDeviceList (pRawInputDeviceList AS RAWINPUTDEVICELIST, puiNumDevices AS _OFFSET, cbSize AS _UNSIGNED LONG)&
56. END DECLARE
57.  
58. ' =============================================================================
59. ' GLOBAL VARIABLES
60. DIM ProgramPath$
61. DIM ProgramName$
62.  
63. ' =============================================================================
64. ' INITIALIZE
65. ProgramName$ = MID$(COMMAND$(0), _INSTRREV(COMMAND$(0), "\") + 1)
66. ProgramPath$ = LEFT$(COMMAND$(0), _INSTRREV(COMMAND$(0), "\"))
67.  
68. ' =============================================================================
69. ' START
70. main ProgramName$
71.  
72. ' =============================================================================
73. ' FINISH
74. SYSTEM ' return control to the operating system
75. PRINT ProgramName$ + " finished."
76. END
77.  
78. ' /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
79.  
80. SUB main
81.         PRINT "MinimalRawInputTest% RETURNS: " + cstr$( MinimalRawInputTest%() )
82. END SUB ' main
83.  
84. FUNCTION MinimalRawInputTest%
85.     DIM iResult%
86.         'UINT nInputDevices;
87.         DIM nInputDevices AS _UNSIGNED LONG
88.         DIM MEM AS _MEM
89.        
90.     ' 1st call to GetRawInputDeviceList: Pass NULL to get the size of the list.
91.     'if (GetRawInputDeviceList(NULL, &nInputDevices, sizeof(RAWINPUTDEVICELIST)) != 0) return 0;
92.        
93.         ' **********
94.         ' UNKNOWNS:
95.         ' Q1: how do you pass NULL in QB64?
96.         ' A1: ?
97.        
98.         ' Q2: what is &nInputDevices vs nInputDevices and what is the QB64 equivalent?
99.         ' A2: is it the pointer to the variable? in QB64, The _OFFSET function returns the memory offset of/within a given variable.
100.        
101.         ' Q3: what is the QB64 equivalent of sizeof?
102.         ' A3: maybe _MEM and _MEM.SIZE ?
103.        
104.         MEM = _MEM(RAWINPUTDEVICELIST)
105.        
106.         'IF (GetRawInputDeviceList(NULL, _OFFSET(nInputDevices), sizeof(RAWINPUTDEVICELIST)) <> 0) THEN
107.         IF (GetRawInputDeviceList(NULL, _OFFSET(nInputDevices), MEM.SIZE) <> 0) THEN
108.                 iResult% = 0
109.     ELSE
110.                 PRINT "Number of raw input devices: " + cstr$(nInputDevices)
111.                 PRINT "Press any key..."
112.                 SLEEP ' SLEEP without an argument waits until a keypress.)
113.                 iResult% = 1
114.         END IF
115.    
116.         ' RETURN RESULT (ONE EXIT POINT!)
117.         MinimalRawInputTest% = iResult%
118. END FUNCTION ' MinimalRawInputTest%
119.  
120. ' /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
121. ' Equivalent to vbscript / VBA / VB6 cstr
122.  
123. FUNCTION cstr$ (myValue)
124.     'cstr$ = LTRIM$(RTRIM$(STR$(myValue)))
125.     cstr$ = _TRIM$(STR$(myValue))
126. END FUNCTION ' cstr$
127.  
128. ' /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
129. ' Equivalent to getch
130.  
131. ' -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
132. ' What is getch?
133. '     getch() is a nonstandard function and is present in conio.h header file
134. '     which is mostly used by MS-DOS compilers like Turbo C. It is not part of
135. '     the C standard library or ISO C, nor is it defined by POSIX.
136. '     Like these functions, getch() also reads a single character from the
137. '     keyboard. But it does not use any buffer, so the entered character is
138. '     immediately returned without waiting for the enter key.
139. '     Syntax: int getch(void);
140. '     Parameters: This method does not accept any parameters.
141. '     Return value: This method returns the ASCII value of the key pressed.
142.  
143. ' -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
144. ' QB64 alternate to getch
145. '
146. ' SLEEP ' SLEEP without an argument waits until a keypress.)
147. '
148. ' or
149. '
150. ' DO
151. '       x = _KEYHIT
152. '       IF x THEN
153. '               EXIT DO
154. '       END IF
155. ' LOOP
156.  

[SMcNeill]

    FUNCTION GetRawInputDeviceList& (pRawInputDeviceList AS RAWINPUTDEVICELIST, puiNumDevices AS _OFFSET, cbSize AS _UNSIGNED LONG)


& *after* the function name.

[madscijr]

    FUNCTION GetRawInputDeviceList& (pRawInputDeviceList AS RAWINPUTDEVICELIST, puiNumDevices AS _OFFSET, cbSize AS _UNSIGNED LONG)


& *after* the function name.

Aha... DUH! LoL
Thank you.

Any idea how you would send a NULL value as one of the parameters?