Case study

LineWars II: a portable SDL3 reconstruction

Provides an SDL3 backend for a portable-C reconstruction of the 1994 DOS game. Its build configuration links the reconstructed engine to video, input and audio adapters; the upstream documents differential gates against original machine code.

Targets: Binary · Game
Category: Independent reconstruction cases
Relationship: Independent reconstruction project
Sources reviewed: 2026-10-20

Requirements & limits

Builds target Windows and Linux using C99, CMake 3.16+ and SDL3; the reviewed build notes specify SDL 3.4.12 built with the same compiler as the game. This is a port of the separate LineWarsII-DOS reconstruction.
The reconstructed/ported source uses PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0. NOTICE reports original-author Patrick Aalto’s July 16, 2026 permission for freeware distribution of the original game material; it does not grant commercial-use permission. SDL keeps its separate zlib license.
The upstream reports renderer and menu comparisons and captured PCM levels within about 10% of its DOS reference; higher-resolution rendering changes the presentation.

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The description was reviewed against primary sources.

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Primary sources

README.md GitHub · fredangstadt-lang/LineWarsII-SDL · Revision 343bb50
CMakeLists.txt GitHub · fredangstadt-lang/LineWarsII-SDL · Revision 343bb50
platform/sdl3/hal_sdl.c GitHub · fredangstadt-lang/LineWarsII-SDL · Revision 343bb50
docs/PORTING_CHECKLIST.md GitHub · fredangstadt-lang/LineWarsII-SDL · Revision 343bb50
LICENSE.md GitHub · fredangstadt-lang/LineWarsII-SDL · Revision 343bb50
NOTICE.md GitHub · fredangstadt-lang/LineWarsII-SDL · Revision 343bb50

Requirements & limits

About this entry

Primary sources

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