The Flat Four platform component provides basic platform services -- such as window and display management, event handling, and user input -- as a common, simple interface across Windows, MacOS X, and Linux/X11. It is implemented as a set of fully-managed .NET assemblies: one binary runs on many platforms, no recompilation necessary.

using FlatFour.Platform;
 
public class VerySimplePlatformApp
{
   static void Main()
   {
      IPlatformSystem platform = PlatformSystem.Start();
      IPlatformDisplay display = platform.OpenDisplay("My Display", 640, 480);
      platform.RunEventLoop();
      platform.Dispose();
   }
}

The Platform System is developed and delivered as part of the Flat Four Framework (coming soon :). You can use it independently, in conjunction with the framework, or pair it up with FlatFour.OpenGL and Tao.OpenGL for a lightweight, fully-managed 3D development platform.

Status and Plans

In its current state, the available platform services include:

• create desktop windows
• run the application event loop
• dispatch window resize events
• dispatch idle time events

Read on to learn how to get started with the Flat Four platform services.