SDL_INLINE(3)

📦
version 3.4.18 · 9 versions
, in fedora 43, fedora 44

💖 SDL_INLINE — bestie's guide to the inline hint macro 💖

okay so you're here because you found SDL_INLINE in the SDL3 headers and you're like "what is this little guy doing". bestie. same. let's go. this is a page from the SDL3 FUNCTIONS manual and it's honestly a short one, so we can be unhinged about it together 🎀

✨ NAME ✨

SDL_INLINE — a macro that asks the compiler to inline a function. that's it. that's the whole vibe. it's giving "please sir, may I be fast" 🙈

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

#include <SDL3/SDL_begin_code.h>

#define SDL_INLINE __inline

so you pull in SDL_begin_code.h, and then SDL_INLINE is literally defined as __inline. iconic. no notes 💅

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

okay so here's the tea, and it's important:

SDL_INLINE is a hint to the compiler that says "hey queen, would you mind inlining this function?" and that's all it is — a hint. a suggestion. a polite little note passed in class 📝

the compiler is free to ignore this request. it is not a command, it is not a promise, it is not a binding contract. it's a vibe check, and the compiler gets to pass or fail it however it wants. do not build your entire mental model of performance around this macro, bestie 😭

and for the compilers out there that don't support inline at all? on compilers without inline support, this is defined to nothing. literally nothing. it evaporates. poof. SDL_INLINE just becomes empty and your function is a normal function and the world keeps spinning 🌈

👑 AVAILABILITY 👑

this macro has been available since SDL 3.2.0. so if you're on anything older, it's not there yet, no cap. upgrade era fr fr ✨

🌟 sign-off 🌟

and that's the whole page, bestie!! this one came to you from Simple Directmedia Layer, and the version we're living in is SDL 3.4.18 🫶 go forth and hint at inlining, and remember: the compiler owes you nothing 💖✨🎀🦋

📦 where this page comes from