Timer routines

Allegro can set up several virtual timer functions, all going at different speeds.

Under DOS it will constantly reprogram the clock to make sure they are all called at the correct times. Because they alter the low level timer chip settings, these routines should not be used together with other DOS timer functions like the DJGPP uclock() routine. Moreover, the FPU state is not preserved across Allegro interrupts so you ought not to use floating point or MMX code inside timer interrupt handlers.

Under other platforms, they are usually implemented using threads, which run parallel to the main thread. Therefore timer callbacks on such platforms will not block the main thread when called, so you may need to use appropriate synchronisation devices (eg. mutexes, semaphores, etc.) when accessing data that is shared by a callback and the main thread. (Currently Allegro does not provide such devices.)

install_timer - Installs the Allegro timer interrupt handler.
remove_timer - Removes the Allegro time handler.
install_int - Installs a user timer handler.
install_int_ex - Adds or modifies a timer.
LOCK_VARIABLE - Locks the memory of a variable used by a timer.
LOCK_FUNCTION - Locks the memory of a function used by a timer.
END_OF_FUNCTION - Locks the code used by a timer.
remove_int - Removes a timers.
install_param_int - Installs a timer routine with a customizable parameter.
install_param_int_ex - Adds or modifies a timer with a customizable parameter.
remove_param_int - Removes a timer with a customizable parameter.
retrace_count - Retrace count simulator.
rest - Waits a specified number of milliseconds or yields CPU.
rest_callback - Like rest(), but calls the callback during the wait.

Allegro Manual

API

Timer routines