F35 Change: Replace SDL 1.2 with sdl12-compat using SDL 2.0 (Self-Contained Change proposal)

[Ben Cotton]

https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Changes/SDL12onSDL2

== Summary ==
This Change proposes to replace SDL 1.2 with sdl12-compat, which uses SDL 2.0.

== Owner ==
* Name: [[User:Ngompa| Neal Gompa]]
* Email: ngompa13(a)gmail.com


== Detailed Description ==
SDL 1.2 development ended long ago, with SDL 2.0 replacing it.
However, many older games still use SDL 1.2 and cannot change to SDL
2.0. In order to help move SDL 1.2 games into the modern world, let's
replace SDL 1.2 with sdl12-compat, which uses SDL 2.0.


== Benefit to Fedora ==
Switching SDL 1.2 powered games to use <code>sdl12-compat</code>
offers significant advantages:

* Automatic support for Wayland with SDL 2.0.16+
* Native support for PipeWire for audio
* Massively improved support for inputs (including gamepads)

Ultimately, SDL 2.0 is actively maintained and developed. We want
applications that use SDL to use an actively maintained codebase.

== Scope ==
* Proposal owners:
** Package [https://github.com/libsdl-org/sdl12-compat
libsdl12-compat] ([https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1960960
RH#1960960])
** Adjust {{package|SDL}} to not ship the main library package and use
the one from <code>libsdl12-compat</code>
** Once [https://github.com/libsdl-org/sdl12-compat/issues/34
replacement development headers are available], retire {{package|SDL}}
completely.

* Other developers: N/A
* Release engineering: [https://pagure.io/releng/issue/10118 #10118]
* Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change)
* Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)
* Alignment with Objectives: N/A


== Upgrade/compatibility impact ==
The <code>SDL</code> package would be transparently upgraded to
<code>libsdl12-compat</code> package and games using it should just
transparently start using SDL 2.0.



== How To Test ==
1. Swap <code>SDL</code> for <code>sdl12-compat</code>:
<code>dnf swap
SDL sdl12-compat</code>

2. Run something that uses SDL 1.2 like {{package|quake3}} and see
that it works.



== User Experience ==
There shouldn't be a noticeable user impact, other than possibly a
smoother experience because applications are using SDL 2.0.

== Dependencies ==


== Contingency Plan ==
* Contingency mechanism: Restore the <code>SDL</code> package in
{{package|SDL}}. If {{package|SDL}} has been fully retired, then
unretire it.
* Contingency deadline: Final Freeze
* Blocks release? N/A (not a System Wide Change)

== Documentation ==

N/A (not a System Wide Change)

== Release Notes ==
Games that use SDL 1.2 will now transparently use SDL 2.0 through the
<code>sdl12-compat</code> package. This makes it so applications that
historically used SDL 1.2 now use SDL 2.0.


-- 
Ben Cotton
He / Him / His
Fedora Program Manager
Red Hat
TZ=America/Indiana/Indianapolis