VESA 3.00 Programming Development Kit (v3.0)

Developed by Execom of Realtech 📧 [email protected] 🌐 http://www.realtech.scene.org

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📘 Introduction

This SDK provides support for VESA 2.0/3.0 video programming under DOS, enabling high-performance graphics with linear frame buffer (LFB) access and bank-free video memory usage.

For detailed specifications on VESA standards, visit http://www.vesa.org

✨ Features

• Direct video access under DOS with no bank switching.

• Designed for 32-bit compilers (not 16-bit).

• Works with DOS extenders like:

  • DOS/4GW 1.95+
  • Watcom C/C++ 10.6/11
  • DJGPP v2

• Includes a safe LFB allocation/deallocation system with memory protection.

• C++ wrapper available.

• Separate DPMI service layer, DJGPP-compatible, allows simulating real-mode interrupts (e.g., CD-ROM support via MSCDEX).

• Partial compatibility with VESA 1.2 (bank switching support).

• Handles common quirks in video card drivers automatically (e.g., incorrect mode reporting).

✅ Tested Video Cards

• Matrox Millennium
• Chips 65550
• S3 Trio64/64V+, Virge, 968
• ET4000/W32p
• ATI Rage Pro, Rage 128
• NVIDIA GeForce
• Many others...

Note: Compatible with Windows 9x (not Windows NT). ⚠️ Some drivers may fail to restore correct video modes when returning to Windows — use in pure DOS when possible.

⚙ Driver Quirks Handled

• 15-bit mode = 16-bit mode (Matrox)
• 800×600 mode = 960-byte scanline (Matrox)

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🛠 Compiling

Important: The archive contains subdirectories.

Supported Compilers

• Watcom C/C++ 10+

  • Rename makefile.wat → makefile

• DJGPP v2+

  • Rename makefile.gcc → makefile

Directory Structure

/VBELIB   → VBE Core library source and RM DPMI manager
/DEMOS    → Demo programs
/LIB      → Compiled VBE Core library
/INCLUDE  → Header files

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🚀 Demos

1. demo0.exe Detects VBE support and lists available video modes. ⚠️ Some cards may list duplicate modes — ensure uniqueness in your mode list.

2. demo1.exe LFB write test in 640×480×16-bit mode using a Julia fractal. Uses VBE_LockSurfaceAlt to access the front buffer.

3. demo2.exe Page flipping and back buffer test using basic line drawing.

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📄 License & Credits

This SDK is free to use, but do not modify the package contents. If you use this in your own projects, credits are appreciated.

While clones of this SDK have surfaced, this was the first SDK dedicated to VESA 2.0.

For questions, contact: [email protected]

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