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In my blog, I delve into the world of programming web technologies, Linux, Unix-like, and graphic design using free tools on Linux.

Monday, April 6, 2026

How to setup SDL2 lib for Python

SDL 2 (Simple DirectMedia Layer 2) is an open‑source, cross‑platform library that gives programs low‑level access to graphics, audio, input devices, and timing. By handling window creation, 2D rendering, OpenGL/Vulkan contexts, sound playback, keyboard/mouse/controller input, and basic threading, it lets developers write multimedia and game code once and run it on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and many consoles.

Install Ubuntu package:

sudo apt install python3-sdl2

test.py:

import sdl2

version = sdl2.SDL_version()
sdl2.SDL_GetVersion(version)
print(f"SDL2 version: {version.major}.{version.minor}.{version.patch}")

Hello world example:

import sdl2
import sdl2.ext

def run():
    sdl2.ext.init()
    window = sdl2.ext.Window("Hello SDL2", size=(640, 480))
    window.show()

    running = True
    while running:
        events = sdl2.ext.get_events()
        for event in events:
            if event.type == sdl2.SDL_QUIT:
                running = False
                break
    sdl2.ext.quit()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    run()

Example using font and image extensions:

import sdl2
import sdl2.ext
import sdl2.sdlttf as sdlttf
import sdl2.sdlimage as sdlimage

def run():
    # Initialise core + extensions
    sdl2.ext.init()
    sdlttf.TTF_Init()
    sdlimage.IMG_Init(sdlimage.IMG_INIT_PNG)

    window = sdl2.ext.Window("SDL2 with TTF & Image", size=(800, 600))
    window.show()
    renderer = sdl2.ext.Renderer(window)

    # --- Load a PNG image ---
    surface = sdlimage.IMG_Load(b"image.png")
    # Create Texture wrapper from SDL_Texture
    texture = sdl2.ext.Texture(renderer, surface)
    sdl2.SDL_FreeSurface(surface)

    # --- Render a TrueType font ---
    font = sdlttf.TTF_OpenFont(b"mono.ttf", 48)
    fg = sdl2.SDL_Color(255, 255, 255)
    text_surface = sdlttf.TTF_RenderUTF8_Blended(font, b"Hello, SDL2!", fg)
    text_texture = sdl2.ext.Texture(renderer, text_surface)
    sdl2.SDL_FreeSurface(text_surface)

    running = True
    while running:
        for event in sdl2.ext.get_events():
            if event.type == sdl2.SDL_QUIT:
                running = False

        renderer.clear(sdl2.SDL_Color(0, 0, 0))
        # draw image - using Texture objects directly
        renderer.copy(texture, dstrect=sdl2.SDL_Rect(100, 100, 200, 200))
        # draw text
        renderer.copy(text_texture, dstrect=sdl2.SDL_Rect(350, 250, 300, 60))
        renderer.present()

    # Clean up
    texture.destroy()
    text_texture.destroy()
    sdlttf.TTF_CloseFont(font)
    sdlttf.TTF_Quit()
    sdlimage.IMG_Quit()
    sdl2.ext.quit()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    run()

posted by damirs @ April 06, 2026