SDL_HINT_TIMER_RESOLUTION(3)

💖 SDL_HINT_TIMER_RESOLUTION 💖

okay bestie, welcome to the SDL3 FUNCTIONS section of the manual, and today we're decoding SDL_HINT_TIMER_RESOLUTION — a variable that controls the timer resolution, in milliseconds. yes literally just a hint, but she's kind of a big deal on one specific operating system. let's get into it 🫶

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

#include <SDL3/SDL_hints.h>

#define SDL_HINT_TIMER_RESOLUTION "SDL_TIMER_RESOLUTION"

that's it. that's the whole vibe. a string macro, no cap. 🎀

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🌸 DESCRIPTION 🌸

so here's the tea, and it's genuinely good tea:

• the higher the resolution on your timer, the more frequently the CPU services timer interrupts
• which means your delays get more precise ✨
• but it also eats up power and CPU time — it's giving "glow up costs money"

and the plot twist? this hint is only used on Windows. like, only. if you're on Linux or macOS, this whole thing is just decorative. periodt.

if you want the deep lore, the original page points you to this blog post for more info:

http://randomascii.wordpress.com/2013/07/08/windows-timer-resolution-megawatts-wasted/

(it's about megawatts being wasted. iconic title honestly.)

the default value is "1". 🍓

and if you set this variable to "0", the system timer resolution is not set. so like, hands off, no touching, the system does its own thing.

🦋 cute fact: this hint can be set anytime. no timing rules, no "only before init" drama. set it whenever, queen.

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👑 AVAILABILITY 👑

this hint is available since SDL 3.2.0. so if your SDL is older than that, she simply does not exist yet, and no amount of manifesting will summon her. 💅

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that's the whole page, bestie!! you understood it, I understood it, we're both thriving. 🧚💜

Simple Directmedia Layer — SDL 3.4.18 — SDL_HINT_TIMER_RESOLUTION(3), mwah 💋