SDL3

This post is an introduction to the library SDL3, that is the 3rd major version of the Simple DirectMedia Library (SDL).

You can read a post that is an introduction to SDL and the different SDL versions on this post.

The first SDL3 public version (3.1.3) was released on 4 October 2024.

SDL3 Wiki

Installing SDL3

The installing instractions corresponds to the latest version as of 2025: SDL3.

Installing SDL3 in macOS X

Download the .dmg file with the latest version from the official SDL site.

Alternatively, download the source code and compile it directly. You can read a video about how to do it on this external link.

In both cases you will get a folder that is referred as “source folder” in this post.

Find the folder “SDL3.xcframework” within the source folder. Go into the “macos-…” folder.

Go to the folder /Library/Frameworks. You can use the shortcut Command + Shift + G to achieve this.

Copy the folder “SDL3.framework” from the .dmg into /Library/Frameworks/. The system will prompt the password.

Go to the /Library/Frameworks/SDL3.framework folder and run the “SDL3” program.

In case you got an error informing that the developer is unknown you need to go to Apple icon > System Preferences… >> “Security” and click on the “Open anyway” button next to the warning message. Run the “SDL3” program again.

The system will display a terminal explaining that process is completed.

Running a program with SDL

You need to link the SDL libraries in compilation time.

Running a program with SDL from command line

For example, if you are running it from macOS X, use clang as a compiler and will call the library from a C++ program you may run:

clang main.c -F/Library/Frameworks -framework sdl3 -o prog

For example, if you are running it from macOS X, use clang as a compiler and will call the library from a C++ program you may run:

clang++ main.cpp -o prog -F/Library/Frameworks -framework sdl3

Running a program with SDL from Visual Studio Code GUI in macOS X

Run the program before it gets an error because it does not find the “SDL3” libraries. Select the “clang” compiler. A tasks.json file will be created in folder “.vscode”.

Open the tasks.json file and add the following lines to the args command:

"-F/Library/Frameworks",
"-framework", "SDL3",

Click on “Run” button again.

This solution will compile, but IntelliSense will still detect errors in the visual editor.

Click to the Command Palette (Cmd + Shift + P).

Type : “C/C++ Configurations (UI)”.

Add the following line to the include path (in case there is something written there, just add an extra line):

/Library/Frameworks/SDL3.framework/Headers

Go to Advance Settings and add the following line to Mac Framework Path:

/Library/Frameworks

Learning SDL3

Learning SDL3:

SDL specification
SDL tutorials
SDL examples

SDL Specification

SDL3 official API specification

SDL Tutorials

SDL3 official tutorials

SDL Examples

You can find SDL3 examples on this external link.

External References

Installing SDL3 in macOS X
- Mike Shah; “Installation“; YouTube