[rcore][win32] Adding native win32 backend by marler8997 · Pull Request #4869 · raysan5/raylib

marler8997 · 2025-03-31T20:06:39Z

A native Win32 backend for your consideration. The main benefits are a smaller disk/memory footprint for raylib applications and less unexpected behavior. Here's some numbers to compare:

Executable File Size of core_basic_window

      |     ReleaseFast    |   ReleaseSmall   |      Debug       |
------|--------------------|------------------|------------------|
GLFW  |  1,138 KB  (1.00x) |   794 KB (1.00x) | 1,479 KB (1.00x) | 
RGFW  |    981 KB  (0.86x) |   633 KB (0.78x) | 1,282 KB (0.86x) |
WIN32 |    951 KB  (0.83x) |   611 KB (0.77x) | 1,254 KB (0.85x) |

Memory Footprint (process memory size) of core_basic_window

      |   ReleaseFast   | ReleaseSmall  |     Debug     |
------|-----------------|---------------|---------------|
GLFW  |     53.4 MB     |    53.5 MB    |     53.4 MB   |
RGFW  |     53.6 MB     |    53.5 MB    |     53.5 MB   |
WIN32 |     53.2 MB     |    53.1 MB    |     53.1 MB   |

The implementation attempts to keep the actual state of the window and the raylib flags in sync. This is enforced before/after every window message which is overly paranoid but probably good for a first pass. The Win32 platform is full of gotchas and the benefit of using an abstraction like GLFW/RGFW are they have had a long time to fix all of them. However, I've made an effort to handle alot of them here.

The backend is not complete but it currently works with most examples.

I believe it makes sense to only do this when there are no known touch points. I am not even sure if this should be done at all. See raysan5#4869 for more information.

raysan5 · 2025-04-02T17:22:00Z

@marler8997 Thanks for this new backend! Looks great! I want to test and review more carefully before merging.

I don't understand OpenGL well enough to know the difference between SwapBuffers and wglSwapLayerBuffers but the former seems to double my FPS (from 2000 to about 4000 in core_vr_simulator).

Instead of calling BeginPaint/EndPaint in WM_PAINT which signals to the OS that our window content is updated, now when we encounter the WM_PAINT message instead we return back to the raylib application which will trigger it to render a new frame. We've replaced the call to BeginPaint and EndPaint with a call to ValidateRect in SwapBuffers, which, means we're now correctly telling the OS when our window content is actually up-to-date. Note that this doesn't fix the window content not being updated during a window resize/move beacuse thos have their own message loop which doesn't return early when it's time to paint.

raysan5 · 2025-04-18T09:02:34Z

@marler8997 I'm testing the new backend and it fails when tryin to compile with gcc:

gcc -c rcore.c -Iexternal/glfw/include -std=c99 -Wall -DPLATFORM_DESKTOP_WIN32 -DGRAPHICS_API_OPENGL_33 -Wno-unused-parameter
Process started (PID=18108) >>>
In file included from rcore.c:557:
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c: In function 'DecoratedFromStyle':
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:132:10: warning: unused variable 'is_off' [-Wunused-variable]
  132 |     bool is_off;
      |          ^~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c: In function 'IsWindows10Version1703OrGreaterWin32':
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:483:27: error: passing argument 1 of 'Verify' from incompatible pointer type [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
  483 |     return 0 == (*Verify)(&osvi, VER_MAJORVERSION | VER_MINORVERSION | VER_BUILDNUMBER, cond);
      |                           ^~~~~
      |                           |
      |                           OSVERSIONINFOEX * {aka OSVERSIONINFOEXA *}
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:483:27: note: expected 'RTL_OSVERSIONINFOEXW *' but argument is of type 'OSVERSIONINFOEX *' {aka 'OSVERSIONINFOEXA *'}
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c: In function 'GetCursorName':
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:700:45: error: returning 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'} from a function with incompatible return type 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
  700 |     case MOUSE_CURSOR_DEFAULT      : return IDC_ARROW;
      |                                             ^~~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:701:45: error: returning 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'} from a function with incompatible return type 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
  701 |     case MOUSE_CURSOR_ARROW        : return IDC_ARROW;
      |                                             ^~~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:702:45: error: returning 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'} from a function with incompatible return type 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
  702 |     case MOUSE_CURSOR_IBEAM        : return IDC_IBEAM;
      |                                             ^~~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:703:45: error: returning 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'} from a function with incompatible return type 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
  703 |     case MOUSE_CURSOR_CROSSHAIR    : return IDC_CROSS;
      |                                             ^~~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:704:45: error: returning 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'} from a function with incompatible return type 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
  704 |     case MOUSE_CURSOR_POINTING_HAND: return IDC_HAND;
      |                                             ^~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:705:45: error: returning 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'} from a function with incompatible return type 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
  705 |     case MOUSE_CURSOR_RESIZE_EW    : return IDC_SIZEWE;
      |                                             ^~~~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:706:45: error: returning 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'} from a function with incompatible return type 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
  706 |     case MOUSE_CURSOR_RESIZE_NS    : return IDC_SIZENS;
      |                                             ^~~~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:707:45: error: returning 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'} from a function with incompatible return type 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
  707 |     case MOUSE_CURSOR_RESIZE_NWSE  : return IDC_SIZENWSE;
      |                                             ^~~~~~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:708:45: error: returning 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'} from a function with incompatible return type 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
  708 |     case MOUSE_CURSOR_RESIZE_NESW  : return IDC_SIZENESW;
      |                                             ^~~~~~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:709:45: error: returning 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'} from a function with incompatible return type 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
  709 |     case MOUSE_CURSOR_RESIZE_ALL   : return IDC_SIZEALL;
      |                                             ^~~~~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:710:45: error: returning 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'} from a function with incompatible return type 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
  710 |     case MOUSE_CURSOR_NOT_ALLOWED  : return IDC_NO;
      |                                             ^~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c: In function 'ShowCursor':
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:1346:33: error: passing argument 2 of 'LoadCursorW' from incompatible pointer type [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
 1346 |     SetCursor(LoadCursorW(NULL, IDC_ARROW));
      |                                 ^~~~~~~~~
      |                                 |
      |                                 CHAR * {aka char *}
In file included from C:/raylib/w64devkit/x86_64-w64-mingw32/include/windows.h:72,
                 from platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:56:
C:/raylib/w64devkit/x86_64-w64-mingw32/include/winuser.h:4114:69: note: expected 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} but argument is of type 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'}
 4114 |   WINUSERAPI HCURSOR WINAPI LoadCursorW(HINSTANCE hInstance,LPCWSTR lpCursorName);
      |                                                             ~~~~~~~~^~~~~~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c: In function 'WndProc2':
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:1798:80: error: passing argument 2 of 'LoadCursorW' from incompatible pointer type [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
 1798 |             SetCursor(CORE.Input.Mouse.cursorHidden ? NULL : LoadCursorW(NULL, IDC_ARROW));
      |                                                                                ^~~~~~~~~
      |                                                                                |
      |                                                                                CHAR * {aka char *}
C:/raylib/w64devkit/x86_64-w64-mingw32/include/winuser.h:4114:69: note: expected 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} but argument is of type 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'}
 4114 |   WINUSERAPI HCURSOR WINAPI LoadCursorW(HINSTANCE hInstance,LPCWSTR lpCursorName);
      |                                                             ~~~~~~~~^~~~~~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c: In function 'InitPlatform':
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:1941:39: error: passing argument 2 of 'LoadCursorW' from incompatible pointer type [-Wincompatible-pointer-types]
 1941 |         c.hCursor = LoadCursorW(NULL, IDC_ARROW);
      |                                       ^~~~~~~~~
      |                                       |
      |                                       CHAR * {aka char *}
C:/raylib/w64devkit/x86_64-w64-mingw32/include/winuser.h:4114:69: note: expected 'LPCWSTR' {aka 'const short unsigned int *'} but argument is of type 'CHAR *' {aka 'char *'}
 4114 |   WINUSERAPI HCURSOR WINAPI LoadCursorW(HINSTANCE hInstance,LPCWSTR lpCursorName);
      |                                                             ~~~~~~~~^~~~~~~~~~~~
rcore.c: At top level:
rcore.c:3604:6: warning: 'SetupFramebuffer' defined but not used [-Wunused-function]
 3604 | void SetupFramebuffer(int width, int height)
      |      ^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
platforms/rcore_desktop_win32.c:716:13: warning: 'GetMonitorDpi' defined but not used [-Wunused-function]
  716 | static UINT GetMonitorDpi(HMONITOR monitor)
      |             ^~~~~~~~~~~~~
<<< Process finished (PID=18108). (Exit code 1)

Also noted that file does not follow the raylib code conventions, it should be reviewed.

marler8997 · 2025-04-18T15:04:07Z

Ok I added a few commits to fix the errors compiling with GCC and updated the style to match raylib conventions. With this I can build on Windows with the w64devkit via make PLATFORM=PLATFORM_DESKTOP_WIN32 GRAPHICS=GRAPHICS_API_OPENGL_33

Added some more missing spaces after conditional statements. Also made unsupported MSAA_4X an assert instead of an abort and also removed dpi-aware cases for older OS's. More changes would be needed to support those OS versions, namely, removing the dependency on shcore.

raysan5 · 2025-04-20T09:14:38Z

@marler8997 Reviewed it again, why does it require the -DUNICODE flag and the -lshcore library? GLFW did not required it, afaik.

When compiling I get an empty window, I guess it could be related to DPI:

Also, it does not seem to consider the OpenGL 3.3 requested version.

EDIT: Compiled with Notepad++ script and w64devkit included in raylib Windows installer.

marler8997 · 2025-04-20T14:35:20Z

The -DUNICODE flag isn't necessary as far as I know, it helps prevent us from accidently using old legacy wrapper functions but it can be removed if you prefer. I pushed a commit that should allow you to compile using the w64devkit without this flag.

shcore is required for proper DPI support on Windows 8 and newer, so to support both older and newer Windows versions (Windows 7 and older), GLFW loads it at runtime with LoadLibrary/GetProc. If raylib support extends to Windows 7, then we should do the same, does it?

Also yes I can confirm, the backend currently doesn't do anything with the requested OpenGL version.

After making the change to allow me to compile with w64devkit, building with a modified notepad++ script and the w64devkit, I was not able to reproduce the blank screen issue. Here's the two scripts I used to compile the core basic window example:

echo > Choose compile options
echo -------------------------------
echo Set desired OpenGL API version: 1.1, 2.1, 3.3, 4.3
SET GRAPHIC_API=GRAPHICS_API_OPENGL_33
echo
echo > Setup required Environment
echo -------------------------------------
SET RAYLIB_PATH=C:\git\raylib
SET COMPILER_PATH=C:\w64devkit\bin
ENV_SET PATH=$(COMPILER_PATH)
SET CC=gcc
SET AR=ar
SET CFLAGS=-std=c99 -Wall -DPLATFORM_DESKTOP_WIN32 -D$(GRAPHIC_API) -Wno-unused-parameter
SET RELEASE_PATH=$(COMPILER_PATH)\..\x86_64-w64-mingw32
cd $(RAYLIB_PATH)\src
echo
echo > Clean latest build
echo -----------------------
cmd /c del /F *.o
cmd /c del /F libraylib.a
echo
echo > Compile raylib modules
echo ------------------------------
$(CC) --version
$(CC) -c rcore.c -Iexternal/glfw/include $(CFLAGS)
$(CC) -c rglfw.c $(CFLAGS)
$(CC) -c rshapes.c $(CFLAGS)
$(CC) -c rtextures.c $(CFLAGS)
$(CC) -c rtext.c $(CFLAGS)
$(CC) -c rmodels.c $(CFLAGS)
$(CC) -c raudio.c $(CFLAGS)
$(CC) -c utils.c $(CFLAGS)
echo
echo > Generate raylib library
echo ------------------------------
$(AR) rcs libraylib.a rcore.o rglfw.o rshapes.o rtextures.o rtext.o rmodels.o raudio.o utils.o
echo
echo > Install raylib library
echo --------------------------
cmd /c copy raylib.h $(RELEASE_PATH)\include /Y
cmd /c copy rlgl.h $(RELEASE_PATH)\include /Y
cmd /c copy libraylib.a $(RELEASE_PATH)\lib /Y
echo
echo > Reset Environment
echo --------------------------
ENV_UNSET PATH

echo > Setup required Environment
echo -------------------------------------
SET RAYLIB_PATH=C:\git\raylib
SET COMPILER_PATH=C:\w64devkit\bin
ENV_SET PATH=$(COMPILER_PATH)
SET CC=gcc
cd $(CURRENT_DIRECTORY)
echo
echo > Saving Current File
echo -------------------------
npp_save
echo
echo > Compile simple C file
echo ----------------------------
$(CC) -o $(NAME_PART).exe $(FILE_NAME) -Wall -Wextra -std=c99 -lraylib -lopengl32 -lgdi32 -lshcore -lwinmm
echo
echo > Reset Environment
echo --------------------------
ENV_UNSET PATH

raysan5 · 2025-08-31T10:13:24Z

@marler8997 I'm merging this new backend for further review on my side but I'm still getting the blank window...

In any case, thank you very much for this new addition!

marler8997 · 2025-08-31T16:16:30Z

Sure, I did have that question about what versions of Windows raylib supports? Is raylib supposed to support Windows 7 or even older?

raysan5 · 2025-08-31T16:50:02Z

@marler8997 Afair, raylib latests versions supports down to Windows 7/Vista but not sure at this point... for me it's ok if Windows 8+ is supported.

raysan5 changed the title ~~native win32 backend~~ [rcore][win32] Adding native win32 backend Mar 31, 2025

marler8997 added 4 commits April 12, 2025 08:21

win32 backend

69a1a0d

[rcore][win32] use SwapBuffers instead of wglSwapLayerBuffers

8e28a94

I don't understand OpenGL well enough to know the difference between SwapBuffers and wglSwapLayerBuffers but the former seems to double my FPS (from 2000 to about 4000 in core_vr_simulator).

[rcore][win32] fallback to finding functions from opengl32.dll

afe3678

marler8997 force-pushed the win32 branch from 0af0dc1 to afe3678 Compare April 13, 2025 00:13

marler8997 added 3 commits April 18, 2025 07:41

[rcore][win32] fixes from review/for gcc

df5a3ce

[rcore][win32] incorporate style conventions

93dc95e

[rcore][win32] workaround unused function error SetupFramebuffer

0961320

marler8997 added 2 commits April 18, 2025 09:43

[rcore][win32] re-enable sanitize flags check for MSAA_4X

282d205

[rcore][win32] fixes for compling with w64devkit without -DUNICODE

d092973

raysan5 added the new feature This is an addition to the library label May 19, 2025

raysan5 added 4 commits August 26, 2025 10:09

Merge branch 'master' into win32

23de0e6

Merge branch 'master' into win32

65291b9

Update build.zig

f496405

Update build.zig

1765b32

raysan5 merged commit f61c2c5 into raysan5:master Aug 31, 2025
7 of 16 checks passed

marler8997 deleted the win32 branch August 31, 2025 16:12

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[rcore][win32] Adding native win32 backend#4869

[rcore][win32] Adding native win32 backend#4869
raysan5 merged 14 commits into
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