Should Allegro on OpenGL in Windows's cpu be fluctuating?

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 21:47:54 +0000

*Title should say CPU Usage

For my game, I want to use GLSL shaders so I explicitly set the ALLEGRO_OPENGL flag when creating a display. However, in Windows, it causes the cpu usage to fluctuate quite a bit compared to Direct3D. This is consistent with anything I compile with Allegro. Is this normal, is it actually consuming what it says?

This happens on my laptop which has an NVidia GeFoce 9400m video card. It also fluctuates on my PC too though, and both have latest drivers.

Is it because there is a substantial advantage to using Direct3D on Windows? If so, would CG be a better alternative?

Thanks

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:15:06 +0000

Can you give me an example I can compile to test it? I have the same 9400M in my laptop. It really should not be doing that, if it is there might be a bug somewhere. One thing that might be an issue is reloading the matrices all the time. I noticed that using PROGRAMMBLE_PIPELINE is a bit slower running than those that don't use shaders (on iphone). My first guess in that case was transferring matrices into shaders. Anyway, I will test an example if you have one.

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:22:35 +0000

I've attached an exe I made which uses a shader. Although it happens even when shaders are not used. It goes anywhere from 5 to 50% on mine. But what it's doing is rather simple. Without shaders in D3D this runs consistently around 3%.

The SRC is a test bed and a bit of a mess but it might help:

#SelectExpand
   1//Allegro 5 
   2#include 
   3#include 
   4#include 
   5#include 
   6#include 
   7#include 
   8#include 
   9
  10#include 
  11#include 
  12#include  
  13#include 
  14#include 
  15#include 
  16#include 
  17#include "SKALE/Skeleton.hpp"
  18#include "SKALE/IKSolver.hpp"
  19#include 
  20
  21ALLEGRO_BITMAP *backbuffer = NULL;
  22GLhandleARB tinter;
  23GLhandleARB tinter_shader;
  24
  25skl::IKSolver solver;
  26
  27 float r = 0.5, g = 0.5, b = 1, ratio = 0;
  28 int dir = 1;
  29
  30 std::ifstream myFile = std::ifstream("shader.txt",std::ios::in);
  31
  32 double start;
  33 GLint loc;
  34
  35#define FRAME_RATE 60
  36
  37//Globals
  38ALLEGRO_DISPLAY *display = NULL;
  39ALLEGRO_TIMER *timer = NULL;
  40ALLEGRO_EVENT event;
  41ALLEGRO_EVENT_QUEUE *queue = NULL;
  42ALLEGRO_BITMAP *rope;
  43bool done = false;
  44skl::Skeleton skeleton;
  45
  46std::string shader;
  47
  48const char* shade[1];
  49
  50void loadShader()
  51{
  52  // Open the file
  53  std::ifstream File("shader.txt", std::ios::in);
  54  if (!File.is_open()) { }// Get the size of the file
  55  File.seekg(0, std::ios::end);int Size = File.tellg();
  56  File.seekg(0, std::ios::beg);
  57  File.clear();// Read in the shader source code
  58  char *Source = new char[Size + 1];memset(Source, 0, Size);
  59  File.read(Source, Size);
  60  File.close();
  61  Source[Size] = '\0';
  62
  63  shade[0] = Source;
  64
  65}
  66void resizeBackBufferToDisplay()
  67{
  68  if(backbuffer)
  69  {
  70    al_destroy_bitmap(backbuffer);
  71    backbuffer = NULL;
  72  }
  73
  74  backbuffer = al_create_bitmap(al_get_display_width(al_get_current_display()),
  75    al_get_display_height(al_get_current_display()));
  76}
  77void initializeAllegro() {
  78  //Initialize Allegro
  79  if(!al_init())
  80  {
  81    throw std::exception("Allegro failed to initialize");
  82  }
  83
  84  if(!al_init_image_addon())
  85  {
  86    throw std::exception("Allegro image addon failed to initialize");
  87  }
  88  al_init_font_addon();
  89
  90  if(!al_init_ttf_addon())
  91  {
  92    throw std::exception("Allegro ttf addon failed to initialize");
  93  }
  94
  95  if(!al_init_primitives_addon())
  96  {
  97    throw std::exception("Allegro primitives addon failed to initialize");
  98  }
  99  if(!al_install_mouse())
 100  {
 101    throw std::exception("Allegro mouse failed to initialize");
 102  }
 103  if(!al_install_keyboard())
 104  {
 105    throw std::exception("Allegro keyboard failed to initialize");
 106  }
 107  
 108  // Start a timer to regulate speed
 109  timer = al_create_timer(1.0/FRAME_RATE);
 110  al_start_timer(timer);
 111
 112  //show screen
 113
 114  al_set_new_display_flags(ALLEGRO_RESIZABLE | ALLEGRO_OPENGL);
 115
 116  display = al_create_display(640,480);
 117
 118  if(!display)
 119  {
 120    done = true;
 121  }
 122  //show the mouse
 123  al_show_mouse_cursor(display); 
 124
 125
 126
 127  //Window Title
 128  al_set_window_title(display,"SKALE - Example");
 129
 130  queue = al_create_event_queue();
 131
 132  rope = al_load_bitmap("rope.png");
 133  resizeBackBufferToDisplay();
 134
 135  loadShader();
 136
 137  tinter_shader = glCreateShaderObjectARB(GL_FRAGMENT_SHADER_ARB);
 138
 139  glShaderSourceARB(tinter_shader, 1, shade, NULL);
 140  glCompileShaderARB(tinter_shader);
 141  tinter = glCreateProgramObjectARB();
 142  glAttachObjectARB(tinter, tinter_shader);
 143  glLinkProgramARB(tinter);
 144  char log[500];
 145
 146  glGetProgramInfoLog(tinter,500,NULL,log);
 147  std::cout << log << std::endl;
 148
 149  loc = glGetUniformLocationARB(tinter, "backBuffer");
 150  glUniform1iARB(loc, al_get_opengl_texture(backbuffer));
 151
 152}
 153
 154void buildSkeleton()
 155{
 156  skeleton.load("Skeleton.txt");
 157
 158}
 159
 160bool Inisde(float x,float y,float l,float t,float r,float b )
 161{
 162 return x > l && x < r && y > t && y < b;
 163}
 164
 165skl::Bone* findBone(float x, float y, skl::Bone* root)
 166{
 167  float x1, y1, x2, y2;
 168
 169  x1 = root->getFrameX();
 170  x2 = root->getFrameX();
 171  y1 = root->getFrameY();
 172  y2 = root->getFrameY();
 173
 174  x1 -= 12.0f;
 175  y1 -= 12.0f;
 176  x2 += 12.0f;
 177  y2 += 12.0f;
 178
 179  if(Inisde(x,y,x1,y1,x2,y2))
 180  {
 181    return root;
 182  }
 183
 184  skl::Bone* result = NULL;
 185  for(std::list<skl::Bone>::iterator it = root->begin(); it != root->end(); ++it )
 186  {
 187    result = findBone(x,y,&(*it));
 188    if(result)
 189    {
 190      return result;
 191    }
 192  }
 193
 194  return NULL;
 195}
 196bool inverse = false;
 197int fr = 0;
 198void renderSkeleton(skl::Bone* root)
 199{
 200
 201  if(root->getParent())
 202  {
 203  
 204    al_draw_scaled_rotated_bitmap(rope,al_get_bitmap_width(rope) / 2.0f,
 205      0,
 206      root->getParent()->getFrameX(), root->getParent()->getFrameY(),0.1f,(root->getLength() * 1.1f) /
 207      al_get_bitmap_height(rope) ,root->getFrameAngle() - (3.1415f / 2.0f),0);
 208    
 209    al_draw_line(
 210      root->getParent()->getFrameX(),root->getParent()->getFrameY(),
 211      root->getFrameX(),root->getFrameY(),al_map_rgb(255,0,0),1.0f);
 212    al_draw_filled_circle(root->getFrameX(),root->getFrameY(),4.0f,al_map_rgb(50,200,0));
 213
 214  }
 215  else
 216  {
 217      al_draw_filled_circle(root->getFrameX(),root->getFrameY(),4.0f,al_map_rgb(50,200,0));
 218  }
 219
 220  for(std::list<skl::Bone>::iterator it = root->begin(); it != root->end(); ++it)
 221  {
 222    renderSkeleton(&(*it));
 223  }
 224}
 225
 226skl::Bone* boneUnderMouse = NULL;
 227int mouseX = 0;
 228int mouseY = 0;
 229int startX = 0;
 230int startY = 0;
 231float startAngle;
 232float realStartAngle;
 233
 234float mouseXF;
 235float mouseYF;
 236
 237float dot(float aX, float aY, float bX, float bY)
 238{
 239  return ((aX * bX) + (aY * bY));
 240}
 241float dots(float aX, float aY, float bX, float bY)
 242{
 243  return ((aX * bX) - (aY * bY));
 244}
 245
 246
 247 float SimplifyAngle(float angle)
 248{
 249  angle = fmod(angle,2.0f * 3.141592f);
 250
 251  if( angle < -3.141592f )
 252    angle += (2.0f * 3.141592);
 253  else if( angle > 3.141592f )
 254    angle -= (2.0f * 3.141592f);
 255  return angle;
 256}
 257 void render();
 258 void inverseKinematics(float targetX, float targetY, skl::Bone* targetBone)
 259 {
 260
 261   std::string stopBone = "ROOT";
 262   //===
 263   // Track the end effector position (the final bone)
 264   double endX = targetBone->getFrameX();
 265   double endY = targetBone->getFrameY();
 266
 267   //===
 268   // Perform CCD on the bones by optimizing each bone in a loop 
 269   // from the final bone to the root bone
 270   bool modifiedBones = false;
 271
 272   while(targetBone->getName() != stopBone)
 273   {
 274     // Get the vector from the current bone to the end effector position.
 275     double curToEndX = endX - targetBone->getParent()->getFrameX();
 276     double curToEndY = endY - targetBone->getParent()->getFrameY();
 277     double curToEndMag = sqrt( curToEndX*curToEndX + curToEndY*curToEndY );
 278
 279     // Get the vector from the current bone to the target position.
 280     double curToTargetX = targetX - targetBone->getParent()->getFrameX();
 281     double curToTargetY = targetY - targetBone->getParent()->getFrameY();
 282     double curToTargetMag = sqrt(   curToTargetX*curToTargetX
 283       + curToTargetY*curToTargetY );
 284
 285     // Get rotation to place the end effector on the line from the current
 286     // joint position to the target position.
 287     double cosRotAng;
 288     double sinRotAng;
 289     double endTargetMag = (curToEndMag*curToTargetMag);
 290     if( endTargetMag <= 0.00001f )
 291     {
 292       cosRotAng = 1.0f;
 293       sinRotAng = 0.0f;
 294     }
 295     else
 296     {
 297       cosRotAng = (curToEndX*curToTargetX + curToEndY*curToTargetY) / endTargetMag;
 298       sinRotAng = (curToEndX*curToTargetY - curToEndY*curToTargetX) / endTargetMag;
 299     }
 300
 301     // Clamp the cosine into range when computing the angle (might be out of range
 302     // due to floating point error).
 303     double rotAng = acosf( max(-1.0f, min(1.0f,cosRotAng) ) );
 304     if( sinRotAng < 0.0f )
 305       rotAng = -rotAng;
 306
 307     if(targetBone->getName() == "RFoot")
 308     {
 309       float a = SimplifyAngle(targetBone->getAngle()) + SimplifyAngle(rotAng) > 3.14f;
 310         if (a > 3.0 && a <= 3.14159)
 311           a = 3.0;
 312         else if (a > 3.14159 && a < 0.0)
 313           a = 0.0;
 314
 315         rotAng = a - SimplifyAngle(targetBone->getAngle());
 316
 317     }
 318     // Rotate the end effector position.
 319     endX = targetBone->getParent()->getFrameX() + cosRotAng*curToEndX - sinRotAng*curToEndY;
 320     endY = targetBone->getParent()->getFrameY() + sinRotAng*curToEndX + cosRotAng*curToEndY;
 321
 322     // Rotate the current bone in local space (this value is output to the user)
 323     targetBone->setAngle(SimplifyAngle(targetBone->getAngle()) + SimplifyAngle(rotAng));
 324
 325     // Check for termination
 326     double endToTargetX = (targetX-endX);
 327     double endToTargetY = (targetY-endY);
 328  
 329
 330     // Track if the arc length that we moved the end effector was
 331     // a nontrivial distance.
 332     if( !modifiedBones && fabs(rotAng)*curToEndMag > 0.0001f )
 333     {
 334       modifiedBones = true;
 335     }
 336
 337     targetBone = targetBone->getParent();
 338   }
 339
 340   
 341 }
 342
 343void render()
 344{
 345
 346
 347  al_set_target_bitmap(backbuffer);
 348
 349     double now, diff;
 350 
 351      now = al_get_time();
 352      diff = now - start;
 353      start = now;
 354      ratio += diff * 0.5 * dir;
 355      if (dir < 0 && ratio < 0) {
 356         ratio = 0;
 357         dir = -dir;
 358      }
 359      else if (dir > 0 && ratio > 1) {
 360         ratio = 1;
 361         dir = -dir;
 362      }
 363
 364    al_clear_to_color(al_map_rgb(240,240,240));
 365
 366    skeleton.processAnimation();
 367    skeleton.updateBones();
 368
 369    renderSkeleton(skeleton.getRoot());
 370
 371     glUseProgramObjectARB(tinter);
 372
 373    al_set_target_bitmap(al_get_backbuffer(al_get_current_display()));
 374  al_draw_bitmap(backbuffer,0,0,0);
 375   glUseProgramObjectARB(0);
 376al_flip_display();
 377
 378    
 379
 380
 381}
 382
 383
 384int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 385
 386{
 387  initializeAllegro();
 388  buildSkeleton();
 389
 390  glUseProgramObjectARB(tinter);
 391  loc = glGetUniformLocationARB(tinter, "resolution");
 392  glUniform2fARB(loc, (float)al_get_display_width(al_get_current_display()),
 393    (float)al_get_display_height(al_get_current_display()));
 394
 395  start = al_get_time();
 396
 397  bool needRedraw = true;
 398  // Start the event queue to handle keyboard input, mouse and our timer
 399  
 400  al_register_event_source(queue, (ALLEGRO_EVENT_SOURCE*)al_get_keyboard_event_source());
 401  al_register_event_source(queue, (ALLEGRO_EVENT_SOURCE*)al_get_mouse_event_source());
 402  al_register_event_source(queue, (ALLEGRO_EVENT_SOURCE*)timer);
 403  al_register_event_source(queue, (ALLEGRO_EVENT_SOURCE*)display);
 404
 405  while(!done) {
 406  
 407    // Block until an event enters the queue
 408    al_wait_for_event(queue, &event);
 409
 410    //Handle rendering and logic
 411    if (needRedraw && al_event_queue_is_empty(queue)) {
 412      render();
 413      
 414
 415      needRedraw = false;
 416    }
 417
 418    
 419    switch(event.type) {
 420    
 421  case ALLEGRO_EVENT_TIMER:
 422    if(event.timer.source == timer)
 423    {
 424
 425      needRedraw = true;
 426    }
 427    
 428    break;
 429  case ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_RESIZE:
 430
 431    al_acknowledge_resize(event.display.source);
 432    resizeBackBufferToDisplay();
 433    al_set_target_bitmap(backbuffer);
 434
 435    double now, diff;
 436
 437    now = al_get_time();
 438    diff = now - start;
 439    start = now;
 440    ratio += diff * 0.5 * dir;
 441    if (dir < 0 && ratio < 0) {
 442      ratio = 0;
 443      dir = -dir;
 444    }
 445    else if (dir > 0 && ratio > 1) {
 446      ratio = 1;
 447      dir = -dir;
 448    }
 449
 450    al_clear_to_color(al_map_rgb(240,240,240));
 451
 452    skeleton.processAnimation();
 453    skeleton.updateBones();
 454
 455    renderSkeleton(skeleton.getRoot());
 456
 457
 458
 459    al_set_target_bitmap(al_get_backbuffer(al_get_current_display()));
 460
 461    glUseProgramObjectARB(tinter);
 462    loc = glGetUniformLocationARB(tinter, "resolution");
 463    glUniform2fARB(loc, (float)al_get_display_width(al_get_current_display()),
 464      (float)al_get_display_height(al_get_current_display()));
 465
 466    al_draw_bitmap(backbuffer,0,0,0);
 467    glUseProgramObjectARB(0);
 468    al_flip_display();
 469
 470    
 471    break;
 472  case ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_SWITCH_IN:
 473    resizeBackBufferToDisplay();
 474    break;
 475  case ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_BUTTON_DOWN:
 476    mouseX = event.mouse.x;
 477    mouseY = event.mouse.y;
 478    startX = mouseX;
 479    startY = mouseY;
 480    boneUnderMouse = findBone((float)mouseX,(float)mouseY,skeleton.getRoot());
 481    if(boneUnderMouse)
 482    {
 483      if(boneUnderMouse->getParent())
 484      {
 485        startX = boneUnderMouse->getParent()->getFrameX();
 486        startY = boneUnderMouse->getParent()->getFrameY();
 487      }
 488      startAngle = boneUnderMouse->getAngle();
 489      realStartAngle = boneUnderMouse->getFrameAngle();
 490    }
 491
 492  
 493    break;
 494  case ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_AXES:
 495    
 496    
 497
 498    if(boneUnderMouse)
 499    {
 500      /*boneUnderMouse->setAngle(boneUnderMouse->getAngle() - boneUnderMouse->getFrameAngle() + (atan2((float)startY - 
 501        event.mouse.y,startX - event.mouse.x)) + 3.1415f );*/
 502      solver.solve(
 503        &skeleton,boneUnderMouse,(float)event.mouse.x,(float)event.mouse.y);
 504      skeleton.updateBones();
 505      //skeleton.save("Skeleton.txt");
 506    }
 507    mouseXF = (float)event.mouse.x / (float)(al_get_display_width(al_get_current_display()) + 1.0f);
 508    mouseYF = (float)event.mouse.y / (float)(al_get_display_height(al_get_current_display()) + 1.0f);
 509    glUseProgramObjectARB(tinter);
 510    loc = glGetUniformLocationARB(tinter,"mouse");
 511    glUniform2fARB(loc,(float)event.mouse.x,(float)event.mouse.y / (float)al_get_display_height(al_get_current_display()));
 512
 513  glUseProgramObjectARB(0);
 514    break;
 515  case ALLEGRO_EVENT_MOUSE_BUTTON_UP:
 516  boneUnderMouse = NULL;
 517    break;
 518  case ALLEGRO_EVENT_DISPLAY_CLOSE:
 519    return 0;
 520    break;
 521    }
 522  }
 523
 524  return 0;
 525}

Thanks for testing.

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:00:41 +0000

Can you include all the source that's needed to compile it? Have you tried profiling it to see where most time is spent? It seems to take around 100% cpu most of the time here.

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:16:00 +0000

Here is the source code for my SKALE API thus far, it is meant to be compiled with MSVC. Thanks

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:41:33 +0000

Sorry, don't have an Allegro+MSVC environment set up. Will it compile with MinGW?

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:45:58 +0000

It uses std::exception with a constructor which is non standard, (for now) and you need to add an include directory of the solution dir since I use "SKALE/blah..." Other than that it should build in g++ / mingw

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:02:55 +0000

I get a whole bunch of errors:


In file included from Animation.hpp:4,
                 from Animation.cpp:1:
../SKALE/KeyFrame.hpp:7: error: ‘size_t’ does not name a type
../SKALE/KeyFrame.hpp:9: error: ‘size_t’ has not been declared
../SKALE/KeyFrame.hpp:12: error: ISO C++ forbids declaration of ‘size_t’ with no type
../SKALE/KeyFrame.hpp:12: error: expected ‘;’ before ‘&’ token
In file included from Bone.cpp:1:
../SKALE/Bone.hpp:19: error: field ‘mName’ has incomplete type
../SKALE/Bone.hpp:42: error: default argument for parameter of type ‘const std::string&’ has type ‘const char [1]’
Bone.cpp: In constructor ‘skl::Bone::Bone(float, float, float, float, float, float, bool, const std::string&, skl::Bone*)’:
Bone.cpp:15: error: class ‘skl::Bone’ does not have any field named ‘mName’
Bone.cpp: In member function ‘const std::string& skl::Bone::getName() const’:
Bone.cpp:149: error: ‘mName’ was not declared in this scope
Bone.cpp: In member function ‘void skl::Bone::setName(const std::string&)’:
Bone.cpp:186: error: ‘mName’ was not declared in this scope
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/bits/stl_algo.h: In function ‘const _Tp& std::__median(const _Tp&, const _Tp&, const _Tp&) [with _Tp = KeyFrame]’:
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/bits/stl_algo.h:2758:   instantiated from ‘void std::__introsort_loop(_RandomAccessIterator, _RandomAccessIterator, _Size) [with _RandomAccessIterator = __gnu_cxx::__normal_iterator > >, _Size = long int]’
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/bits/stl_algo.h:2829:   instantiated from ‘void std::sort(_RandomAccessIterator, _RandomAccessIterator) [with _RandomAccessIterator = __gnu_cxx::__normal_iterator > >]’
Bone.cpp:200:   instantiated from here
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/bits/stl_algo.h:91: error: passing ‘const KeyFrame’ as ‘this’ argument of ‘bool KeyFrame::operator<(const KeyFrame&)’ discards qualifiers
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/bits/stl_algo.h:92: error: passing ‘const KeyFrame’ as ‘this’ argument of ‘bool KeyFrame::operator<(const KeyFrame&)’ discards qualifiers
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/bits/stl_algo.h:94: error: passing ‘const KeyFrame’ as ‘this’ argument of ‘bool KeyFrame::operator<(const KeyFrame&)’ discards qualifiers
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/bits/stl_algo.h:98: error: passing ‘const KeyFrame’ as ‘this’ argument of ‘bool KeyFrame::operator<(const KeyFrame&)’ discards qualifiers
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/bits/stl_algo.h:100: error: passing ‘const KeyFrame’ as ‘this’ argument of ‘bool KeyFrame::operator<(const KeyFrame&)’ discards qualifiers
In file included from ../SKALE/IKSolver.hpp:4,
                 from IKSolver.cpp:1:
../SKALE/Bone.hpp:19: error: field ‘mName’ has incomplete type
../SKALE/Bone.hpp:42: error: default argument for parameter of type ‘const std::string&’ has type ‘const char [1]’
In file included from KeyFrame.cpp:1:
KeyFrame.hpp:7: error: ‘size_t’ does not name a type
KeyFrame.hpp:9: error: ‘size_t’ has not been declared
KeyFrame.hpp:12: error: ISO C++ forbids declaration of ‘size_t’ with no type
KeyFrame.hpp:12: error: expected ‘;’ before ‘&’ token
KeyFrame.cpp:4: error: ‘size_t’ has not been declared
KeyFrame.cpp: In constructor ‘KeyFrame::KeyFrame(float, int)’:
KeyFrame.cpp:5: error: class ‘KeyFrame’ does not have any field named ‘mFrame’
KeyFrame.cpp: At global scope:
KeyFrame.cpp:20: error: expected initializer before ‘&’ token
KeyFrame.cpp: In member function ‘bool KeyFrame::operator<(const KeyFrame&)’:
KeyFrame.cpp:27: error: ‘getFrame’ was not declared in this scope
KeyFrame.cpp:27: error: ‘const class KeyFrame’ has no member named ‘getFrame’
In file included from Skeleton.hpp:4,
                 from Skeleton.cpp:1:
../SKALE/Bone.hpp:19: error: field ‘mName’ has incomplete type
../SKALE/Bone.hpp:42: error: default argument for parameter of type ‘const std::string&’ has type ‘const char [1]’
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/bits/ios_base.h: In copy constructor ‘std::basic_ios >::basic_ios(const std::basic_ios >&)’:
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/bits/ios_base.h:779: error: ‘std::ios_base::ios_base(const std::ios_base&)’ is private
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/iosfwd:55: error: within this context
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/iosfwd: In copy constructor ‘std::basic_ofstream >::basic_ofstream(const std::basic_ofstream >&)’:
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/iosfwd:92: note: synthesized method ‘std::basic_ios >::basic_ios(const std::basic_ios >&)’ first required here 
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/streambuf: In copy constructor ‘std::basic_filebuf >::basic_filebuf(const std::basic_filebuf >&)’:
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/streambuf:794: error: ‘std::basic_streambuf<_CharT, _Traits>::basic_streambuf(const std::basic_streambuf<_CharT, _Traits>&) [with _CharT = char, _Traits = std::char_traits]’ is private
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/iosfwd:86: error: within this context
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/iosfwd: In copy constructor ‘std::basic_ofstream >::basic_ofstream(const std::basic_ofstream >&)’:
/usr/include/c++/4.2.1/iosfwd:92: note: synthesized method ‘std::basic_filebuf >::basic_filebuf(const std::basic_filebuf >&)’ first required here 
Skeleton.cpp: In member function ‘bool skl::Skeleton::save(const std::string&) const’:
Skeleton.cpp:138: note: synthesized method ‘std::basic_ofstream >::basic_ofstream(const std::basic_ofstream >&)’ first required here 
Skeleton.cpp: In member function ‘bool skl::Skeleton::_sortLinesByLevel(std::vector, std::allocator >, std::allocator, std::allocator > > >&, std::vector, std::allocator > >&)’:
Skeleton.cpp:345: warning: NULL used in arithmetic

No time to dig into it right now. Can you at least build me a d3d version of the exe so I can see if it's any better?

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:10:03 +0000

Here is the D3D version (no shader)
Thanks

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 01:12:49 +0000

Well that's a VERY apples and oranges test. The GL version has a bunch of shaders and the d3d version is just drawing a man shaped rope. I can't come to any conclusion with just that. I'd say port your shaders to HLSL and try it, it's not much different from GLSL. Or use Cg.

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 01:29:17 +0000

Well right now, I just compiled ex_bitmap with D3D, and one with OpenGL and the OpenGL version clearly takes much more cpu and fluctuates in cpu usage. I checked in Process Explorer and there is a clear fluctuation in the GL version. In a game like M.A.R.S (http://mars-game.sourceforge.net/) (Which uses pure OpenGL and shaders) on my laptop, there is no fluctuation.

Also profiling all my executables reveals that 95% of the time is spent in al_wait_for_event()

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:08:32 +0000

I can't reproduce it here with ex_bitmap. It's the same, 0-2% with both OpenGL and Direct3D. I tried with Aero on and off and it's the same. What type of percentages are you seeing for ex_bitmap?

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:21:51 +0000

With D3D:
1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1

With al_set_new_display_flags(ALLEGRO_OPENGL):

5, 6, 5, 6, 51, 39, 23, 16, 5, 6, 27, 39, 17, 6, 5

no-reply@allegro.cc (Thomas Fjellstrom) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:23:49 +0000

Have you checked for a driver update for your card recently?

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:25:34 +0000

Those are pretty crazy numbers. Do you have some strange OpenGL settings in your gfx card settings panel?

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:25:43 +0000

I updated to the latest ones this morning. I should note though, that on ex_bitmap I did bring the frame rate from 30 to 60, this seems to make a difference.

Actually, on my game, lowering the frame rate to 30 frames per second fixes the problem. I'm confused now.

So at 60 frames per second, GL fluctuates like mad, but at 30 it is totally stable.

no-reply@allegro.cc (Thomas Fjellstrom) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:49:54 +0000

Any background crap running? Including windows updates and crap?

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 02:53:02 +0000

Nope, I tried rebooting, killing several processes, this behavior is consistent. Changing the timer from 1.0f / 60.0f to 1.0f / 30.0f makes it stable. All of them are like this.

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:10:31 +0000

What happens if you, say, bump it to 100fps, keep record of fps. After 10 seconds is it running @ full 100fps?

no-reply@allegro.cc (Arthur Kalliokoski) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:13:45 +0000

jmasterx said:

it causes the cpu usage to fluctuate quite a bit compared to Direct3D.

It occurs to me that you might be seeing some type of aliasing (google Nyquist frequency and moire patterns). If you can tweak either the loop speed of your program or the update period of Process Explorer.

[EDIT]

I was going to post this an hour ago but canceled, the reply box offered to put it back.

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:23:23 +0000

When I set it to 100 fps, I get around 62fps and 100% (both cores!) cpu usage. When I lower to < 60, I get that desired frame rate.

In D3D I get my 100fps no problem.

On my PC with a GTA 275 it still uses 100% and only 60 fps. (supposed to be getting 100 fps)

I attached it if you want to try.

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:34:33 +0000

Can you see if vsync is force enabled in your opengl settings and try to turn it off?

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:37:44 +0000

It was not force enabled, it said it was going based on the 3D application settings, but setting it to force off solved the problem. Still though, why didn't other GL games give me this problem?

Oh and thanks again to everyone who helped me get to the bottom of this!

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:42:08 +0000

I'm not sure. Did you mention what version of Windows you're using? I'm on Windows 7 64 bit. I have the same gpu and even forcing vsync on I don't see any fluctuation.

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:44:48 +0000

Windows 7 32 bit on Laptop

Driver Version is 275.33

on PC it is 64 bit with a GTX 275 ad has an i7 @ 3.0 GHz.

Both machines have the latest drivers.

If I force on for either of them, the problem comes right back.

Edit: Now the M.A.R.S game has the complete opposite behavior. When I force off, it shoots to 50%, when I force on, it is normal around 15%.

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 04:01:03 +0000

The latter behaviour (of M.A.R.S) makes sense. The Allegro behaviour doesn't. I have this fuzzy memory of someone talking about vsync using up mad CPU but I don't remember who it was or all the details. But it's not happening with M.A.R.S so that makes it a little strange... It's possible the Windows code does something strange with Vsync, I can have a look at it but I've never messed around with WGL.

EDIT: The WGL display driver has no mention of "vsync" or even "sync" anywhere. I'll look into it tonight if I can. But maybe someone else has a better idea already how vsync works on WGL?

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 04:30:39 +0000

This could be useful:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/589064/how-to-enable-vertical-sync-in-opengl

Quote:

If you are working on Windows you have to use extensions to use wglSwapIntervalExt function. It is defined in wglext.h. You will also want to download glext.h file. In wglext file all entry points for Windows specific extensions are declared. All such functions start with prefix wgl. To get more info about all published extensions you can look into OpenGL Extension Registry.

wglSwapIntervalEXT is from WGL_EXT_swap_control extension. It lets you specify minimum number of frames before each buffer swap. Usually it is used for vertical synchronization (if you set swap interval to 1). More info about whole extension can be found here. Before using this function you need query whether you card has support for WGL_EXT_swap_control and then obtain pointer to the function using wglGetProcAddress function.

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 04:58:30 +0000

Thanks. Should be very easy to enable/disable vsync with this function. Allegro's extension handling already loads wglSwapIntervalEXT if it's supported, so it's just a matter of calling it if it's available (Allegro can check if extensions are available very easily too) with 1 or 0 depending on if the user requests it to be off or on (I think on should be the default). Don't know if it would make a difference in your case but it's worth a try.

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:15:41 +0000

Nice!!!

Calling wglSwapIntervalEXT(0); after creating the display totally solves the problem, so I think Allegro is missing this and I'm sure committing this change will solve this issue!

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:21:19 +0000

Well it's more complicated than that, but I just committed a patch to 5.1 that makes WGL honor the ALLEGRO_VSYNC display option. So it should work for you to force it off or on.

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:35:12 +0000

Great thanks!

I was also wondering if it was normal that I can render a lot more bitmaps with D3D. I made a test and rendering 20x20 bitmaps in OpenGL consumed around 60% while it was only about 12% in D3D.

no-reply@allegro.cc (Trent Gamblin) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:41:44 +0000

On some hardware that is normal. Can you give me another simple compilable example, or does ex_draw_bitmap do the same thing, and I can test that?

no-reply@allegro.cc (jmasterx) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 07:47:00 +0000

If you add a for loop of 400 it should do it.

D3D: 5%
GL: 30%

But once again, the big differences come when this example runs at 60 fps, I also added the swapinternal function.