how to create ".dylib"s for Mac OS X?

Good morning!

I'll soon have to decide whether to use BlitzMAX or PureBasic for my developments. The most important aspect will be whether I will be able to produce dynamically loadable libraries for all supported platforms (i.e., DLLs, DyLibs, Shared Objects)

I would really prefer to use BlitzMAX, but

- I managed to build and use a DLL under Windows (XP)
- when I try the same under Mac OS X, the application crashes
- I have not yet tried the same under Linux (as Mac OS X is more important)

Has anybody managed to build DyLibs and Shared Objects?

Here is my approach for Mac OS X:

- the library (DLLTest_DLL.bmx):

strict

framework brl.blitz


function DoubleIt:int (Value:int)
' GCEnter()
  return 2*Value
end function

- the definition file (DLLTest_DLL.def, bmk did not complain - it might therefore be correct)

EXPORTS

DoubleIt=bb_DoubleIt

- the command to build the library

/Applications/BlitzMax/bin/bmk makelib DLLTest_DLL.bmx

- the test program (DLLTest.bmx)

Strict

Framework brl.blitz

Extern "C"  ' see /usr/include/dlfcn.h, POSIX part only
  function dlclose:byte ptr (Handle:byte ptr)
  function dlerror$z        ()
  function  dlopen:byte ptr (Path$z, Mode:int)
  function   dlsym:byte ptr (Handle:byte ptr, Symbol$z)
End Extern


Const RTLD_LAZY         = $01 ' lazy function call binding
Const RTLD_NOW          = $02 ' immediate function call binding
Const RTLD_LOCAL        = $04
Const RTLD_GLOBAL       = $08



Local Library:Byte Ptr = dlopen("DLLTest_DLL", RTLD_GLOBAL | RTLD_NOW)
If (Not Library) Then
  WriteStdout "Library could not be loaded~n"
  Throw "library not found"
Else
  WriteStdout "Library loaded~n"
End If

WriteStdout "dlerror() = " + dlerror() + "~n"


Local DoubleIt:Int (Value:Int)
DoubleIt = dlsym(Library,"DoubleIt")
If (Not DoubleIt) Then
  WriteStdout "unable to obtain symbol 'DoubleIt'~n"
End If

WriteStdout "DoubleIt(10) = " + DoubleIt(10)
WriteStdout "Yippee!~n"

dlclose(Library)

This test is a modification of what I found in this forum and by looking into the file "/usr/include/dlfcn.h"

If I start the test, the application crashes and I get the following dump

Date/Time:      2008-12-04 09:36:14.554 +0100
OS Version:     10.4.11 (Build 8S2167)
Report Version: 4

Command: DLLTest.debug
Path:    /Users/rozek/BlitzMax/DLLTest.debug.app/Contents/MacOS/DLLTest.debug
Parent:  bmk [463]

Version: ??? (???)

PID:    472
Thread: 0

Exception:  EXC_BAD_ACCESS (0x0001)
Codes:      KERN_INVALID_ADDRESS (0x0001) at 0x202967f0

Thread 0 Crashed:
0   <<00000000>> 	0x202967f0 0 + 539584496
1   DLLTest_DLL              	0x00002a34 4 + 25
2   DLLTest_DLL              	0x0000241b run + 162
3   com.apple.Foundation     	0x927f8237 _nsnote_callback + 230
4   com.apple.CoreFoundation 	0x908553d2 __CFXNotificationPost + 345
5   com.apple.CoreFoundation 	0x9084cb51 _CFXNotificationPostNotification + 600
6   com.apple.Foundation     	0x927f07c8 -[NSNotificationCenter postNotificationName:object:userInfo:] + 121
7   com.apple.Foundation     	0x927f7769 -[NSNotificationCenter postNotificationName:object:] + 55
8   com.apple.AppKit         	0x93299976 -[NSApplication _postDidFinishNotification] + 124
9   com.apple.AppKit         	0x93299860 -[NSApplication _sendFinishLaunchingNotification] + 67
10  com.apple.AppKit         	0x9329935d -[NSApplication(NSAppleEventHandling) _handleAEOpen:] + 273
11  com.apple.AppKit         	0x93298f28 -[NSApplication(NSAppleEventHandling) _handleCoreEvent:withReplyEvent:] + 96
12  com.apple.Foundation     	0x927fdf21 -[NSAppleEventManager dispatchRawAppleEvent:withRawReply:handlerRefCon:] + 447
13  com.apple.Foundation     	0x927fdd4b _NSAppleEventManagerGenericHandler + 91
14  com.apple.AE             	0x91521fb5 aeDispatchAppleEvent(AEDesc const*, AEDesc*, unsigned long, unsigned char*) + 147
15  com.apple.AE             	0x91521ee6 dispatchEventAndSendReply(AEDesc const*, AEDesc*) + 44
16  com.apple.AE             	0x91521db2 aeProcessAppleEvent + 190
17  com.apple.HIToolbox      	0x92df4084 AEProcessAppleEvent + 37
18  com.apple.AppKit         	0x9329711d _DPSNextEvent + 1044
19  com.apple.AppKit         	0x93296b37 -[NSApplication nextEventMatchingMask:untilDate:inMode:dequeue:] + 137
20  com.apple.AppKit         	0x932908c4 -[NSApplication run] + 512
21  DLLTest_DLL              	0x000029f5 main + 1124
22  DLLTest_DLL              	0x0000227e _start + 228 (crt.c:272)
23  DLLTest_DLL              	0x00002199 start + 41

Thread 0 crashed with X86 Thread State (32-bit):
  eax: 0x00000000  ebx: 0x00425950  ecx: 0x0000533b  edx: 0x0000b060
  edi: 0x00000000  esi: 0x0010c7a0  ebp: 0xbfffefb8  esp: 0xbfffef9c
   ss: 0x0000001f  efl: 0x00010246  eip: 0x202967f0   cs: 0x00000017
   ds: 0x0000001f   es: 0x0000001f   fs: 0x00000000   gs: 0x00000037

Binary Images Description:
    0x1000 -     0x9fff DLLTest_DLL 	DLLTest_DLL
    0x1000 -     0x9fff DLLTest.debug 	/Users/rozek/BlitzMax/DLLTest.debug.app/Contents/MacOS/DLLTest.debug
  0x205000 -   0x2e3fff libxml2.2.dylib 	/usr/lib/libxml2.2.dylib
0x8fe00000 - 0x8fe4afff dyld 46.16	/usr/lib/dyld
0x90000000 - 0x90171fff libSystem.B.dylib 	/usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib
0x901c1000 - 0x901c3fff libmathCommon.A.dylib 	/usr/lib/system/libmathCommon.A.dylib
0x901c5000 - 0x90202fff com.apple.CoreText 1.1.3 (???)	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreText.framework/Versions/A/CoreText
0x90229000 - 0x902fefff ATS 	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ATS.framework/Versions/A/ATS
0x9031e000 - 0x90773fff com.apple.CoreGraphics 1.258.79 (???)	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/CoreGraphics
0x9080a000 - 0x908d2fff com.apple.CoreFoundation 6.4.11 (368.35)	/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Versions/A/CoreFoundation
0x90910000 - 0x90910fff com.apple.CoreServices 10.4 (???)	/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/CoreServices
0x90912000 - 0x90a06fff libicucore.A.dylib 	/usr/lib/libicucore.A.dylib
0x90a56000 - 0x90ad5fff libobjc.A.dylib 	/usr/lib/libobjc.A.dylib
0x90afe000 - 0x90b62fff libstdc++.6.dylib 	/usr/lib/libstdc++.6.dylib
0x90bd1000 - 0x90bd8fff libgcc_s.1.dylib 	/usr/lib/libgcc_s.1.dylib
0x90bdd000 - 0x90c50fff com.apple.framework.IOKit 1.4.8 (???)	/System/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Versions/A/IOKit
0x90c65000 - 0x90c77fff libauto.dylib 	/usr/lib/libauto.dylib
0x90c7d000 - 0x90f23fff com.apple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 682.30	/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CarbonCore.framework/Versions/A/CarbonCore
0x90f66000 - 0x90fcefff com.apple.CoreServices.OSServices 4.1	/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/OSServices.framework/Versions/A/OSServices
0x91007000 - 0x91046fff com.apple.CFNetwork 129.22 (129.23)	/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CFNetwork.framework/Versions/A/CFNetwork
0x91059000 - 0x91069fff com.apple.WebServices 1.1.3 (1.1.0)	/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/WebServicesCore.framework/Versions/A/WebServicesCore
0x91074000 - 0x910f3fff com.apple.SearchKit 1.0.8	/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SearchKit.framework/Versions/A/SearchKit
0x9112d000 - 0x9114bfff com.apple.Metadata 10.4.4 (121.36)	/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Metadata.framework/Versions/A/Metadata
0x91157000 - 0x91165fff libz.1.dylib 	/usr/lib/libz.1.dylib
0x91168000 - 0x91307fff com.apple.security 4.5.2 (29774)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security
0x91405000 - 0x9140dfff com.apple.DiskArbitration 2.1.2	/System/Library/Frameworks/DiskArbitration.framework/Versions/A/DiskArbitration
0x91414000 - 0x9141bfff libbsm.dylib 	/usr/lib/libbsm.dylib
0x9141f000 - 0x91445fff com.apple.SystemConfiguration 1.8.6	/System/Library/Frameworks/SystemConfiguration.framework/Versions/A/SystemConfiguration
0x91457000 - 0x914cdfff com.apple.audio.CoreAudio 3.0.5	/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreAudio.framework/Versions/A/CoreAudio
0x9151e000 - 0x9151efff com.apple.ApplicationServices 10.4 (???)	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/ApplicationServices
0x91520000 - 0x9154bfff com.apple.AE 314 (313)	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/AE.framework/Versions/A/AE
0x9155e000 - 0x91632fff com.apple.ColorSync 4.4.11	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ColorSync.framework/Versions/A/ColorSync
0x9166d000 - 0x916eafff com.apple.print.framework.PrintCore 4.6 (177.13)	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/PrintCore.framework/Versions/A/PrintCore
0x91717000 - 0x917c0fff com.apple.QD 3.10.27 (???)	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/QD.framework/Versions/A/QD
0x917e6000 - 0x91831fff com.apple.HIServices 1.5.2 (???)	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HIServices.framework/Versions/A/HIServices
0x91850000 - 0x91866fff com.apple.LangAnalysis 1.6.3	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LangAnalysis.framework/Versions/A/LangAnalysis
0x91872000 - 0x9188cfff com.apple.FindByContent 1.5	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/FindByContent.framework/Versions/A/FindByContent
0x91896000 - 0x918d3fff com.apple.LaunchServices 183	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/LaunchServices
0x918e7000 - 0x918f3fff com.apple.speech.synthesis.framework 3.5	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SpeechSynthesis.framework/Versions/A/SpeechSynthesis
0x918fa000 - 0x9193afff com.apple.ImageIO.framework 1.5.8	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ImageIO.framework/Versions/A/ImageIO
0x9194d000 - 0x919fffff libcrypto.0.9.7.dylib 	/usr/lib/libcrypto.0.9.7.dylib
0x91a45000 - 0x91a5bfff libcups.2.dylib 	/usr/lib/libcups.2.dylib
0x91a60000 - 0x91a7efff libJPEG.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ImageIO.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libJPEG.dylib
0x91a83000 - 0x91ae2fff libJP2.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ImageIO.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libJP2.dylib
0x91af4000 - 0x91af8fff libGIF.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ImageIO.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libGIF.dylib
0x91afa000 - 0x91b82fff libRaw.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ImageIO.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libRaw.dylib
0x91b86000 - 0x91ba1fff libPng.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ImageIO.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libPng.dylib
0x91ba6000 - 0x91ba8fff libRadiance.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ImageIO.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libRadiance.dylib
0x91ca5000 - 0x91ce4fff libTIFF.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ImageIO.framework/Versions/A/Resources/libTIFF.dylib
0x91cea000 - 0x91ceafff com.apple.Accelerate 1.3.1 (Accelerate 1.3.1)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Accelerate.framework/Versions/A/Accelerate
0x91cec000 - 0x91d7afff com.apple.vImage 2.5	/System/Library/Frameworks/Accelerate.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/vImage.framework/Versions/A/vImage
0x91d81000 - 0x91d81fff com.apple.Accelerate.vecLib 3.3.1 (vecLib 3.3.1)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Accelerate.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/vecLib.framework/Versions/A/vecLib
0x91d83000 - 0x91ddcfff libvMisc.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/Accelerate.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/vecLib.framework/Versions/A/libvMisc.dylib
0x91de5000 - 0x91e09fff libvDSP.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/Accelerate.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/vecLib.framework/Versions/A/libvDSP.dylib
0x91e11000 - 0x9221afff libBLAS.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/Accelerate.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/vecLib.framework/Versions/A/libBLAS.dylib
0x92254000 - 0x92608fff libLAPACK.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/Accelerate.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/vecLib.framework/Versions/A/libLAPACK.dylib
0x92635000 - 0x92722fff libiconv.2.dylib 	/usr/lib/libiconv.2.dylib
0x92724000 - 0x927a2fff com.apple.DesktopServices 1.3.7	/System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/DesktopServicesPriv.framework/Versions/A/DesktopServicesPriv
0x927e3000 - 0x92a13fff com.apple.Foundation 6.4.10 (567.37)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Foundation.framework/Versions/C/Foundation
0x92b2d000 - 0x92b44fff libGL.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/A/Libraries/libGL.dylib
0x92b4f000 - 0x92ba7fff libGLU.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/A/Libraries/libGLU.dylib
0x92bbb000 - 0x92bbbfff com.apple.Carbon 10.4 (???)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Carbon
0x92bbd000 - 0x92bcdfff com.apple.ImageCapture 3.0.4	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/ImageCapture.framework/Versions/A/ImageCapture
0x92bdb000 - 0x92be3fff com.apple.speech.recognition.framework 3.6	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SpeechRecognition.framework/Versions/A/SpeechRecognition
0x92be9000 - 0x92beefff com.apple.securityhi 2.0.1 (24742)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SecurityHI.framework/Versions/A/SecurityHI
0x92bf4000 - 0x92c85fff com.apple.ink.framework 101.2.1 (71)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Ink.framework/Versions/A/Ink
0x92c99000 - 0x92c9cfff com.apple.help 1.0.3 (32.1)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Help.framework/Versions/A/Help
0x92c9f000 - 0x92cbdfff com.apple.openscripting 1.2.7 (???)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/OpenScripting.framework/Versions/A/OpenScripting
0x92ccf000 - 0x92cd5fff com.apple.print.framework.Print 5.1 (192.3)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Print.framework/Versions/A/Print
0x92cdb000 - 0x92d3efff com.apple.htmlrendering 66.1 (1.1.3)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HTMLRendering.framework/Versions/A/HTMLRendering
0x92d62000 - 0x92da3fff com.apple.NavigationServices 3.4.4 (3.4.3)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/NavigationServices.framework/Versions/A/NavigationServices
0x92dca000 - 0x92dd7fff com.apple.audio.SoundManager 3.9.1	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CarbonSound.framework/Versions/A/CarbonSound
0x92dde000 - 0x92de3fff com.apple.CommonPanels 1.2.3 (73)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CommonPanels.framework/Versions/A/CommonPanels
0x92de8000 - 0x930ddfff com.apple.HIToolbox 1.4.10 (???)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HIToolbox.framework/Versions/A/HIToolbox
0x931e3000 - 0x931eefff com.apple.opengl 1.4.16	/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/A/OpenGL
0x9327e000 - 0x9327efff com.apple.Cocoa 6.4 (???)	/System/Library/Frameworks/Cocoa.framework/Versions/A/Cocoa
0x93280000 - 0x93936fff com.apple.AppKit 6.4.10 (824.48)	/System/Library/Frameworks/AppKit.framework/Versions/C/AppKit
0x93cb7000 - 0x93d32fff com.apple.CoreData 91 (92.1)	/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreData.framework/Versions/A/CoreData
0x93d6b000 - 0x93e24fff com.apple.audio.toolbox.AudioToolbox 1.4.7	/System/Library/Frameworks/AudioToolbox.framework/Versions/A/AudioToolbox
0x93e67000 - 0x93e67fff com.apple.audio.units.AudioUnit 1.4.2	/System/Library/Frameworks/AudioUnit.framework/Versions/A/AudioUnit
0x93e69000 - 0x9402afff com.apple.QuartzCore 1.4.12	/System/Library/Frameworks/QuartzCore.framework/Versions/A/QuartzCore
0x94070000 - 0x940b1fff libsqlite3.0.dylib 	/usr/lib/libsqlite3.0.dylib
0x940b9000 - 0x940f3fff libGLImage.dylib 	/System/Library/Frameworks/OpenGL.framework/Versions/A/Libraries/libGLImage.dylib
0x940f8000 - 0x9410efff com.apple.CoreVideo 1.4.2	/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreVideo.framework/Versions/A/CoreVideo

Model: Macmini1,1, BootROM MM11.0055.B08, 2 processors, Intel Core Duo, 1.66 GHz, 2 GB
Graphics: Intel GMA 950, GMA 950, Built-In, spdisplays_integrated_vram
Memory Module: BANK 0/DIMM0, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz
Memory Module: BANK 1/DIMM1, 1 GB, DDR2 SDRAM, 667 MHz
AirPort: spairport_wireless_card_type_airport_extreme (0x168C, 0x86), 1.4.4
Bluetooth: Version 1.9.5f4, 2 service, 0 devices, 1 incoming serial ports
Network Service: Ethernet (integriert), Ethernet, en0
Serial ATA Device: ST98823AS, 74.53 GB
Parallel ATA Device: MATSHITADVD-R   UJ-846
USB Device: Hub, Up to 480 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: Hub in Apple Pro Keyboard, Mitsumi Electric, Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: Apple Pro Keyboard, Mitsumi Electric, Up to 12 Mb/sec, 250 mA
USB Device: Apple Optical USB Mouse, Mitsumi Electric, Up to 1.5 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: Apple Cinema HD Display, Apple Computer, Inc., Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: USB2.0 Hub, Up to 480 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: Mass Storage Device, Generic, Up to 480 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: USB2.0 Hub, Up to 480 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: Bluetooth USB Host Controller, Apple, Inc., Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: IR Receiver, Apple Computer, Inc., Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA
USB Device: Plantronics Headset, Plantronics, Up to 12 Mb/sec, 500 mA
FireWire Device: unknown_device, unknown_value, Up to 400 Mb/sec

Does anybody have a clue what is going wrong here?

Thanks in advance for any help!

There is another strange problem:

somebody in this forum mentioned the use of "GCEnter()" whithin the DLL functions in order to let the built-in garbage collector run properly.

Under Win32, I am able to build a DLL which calls this function - under Mac OS X, I am not. Here is the linker error message:

Building DLLTest_DLL
Compiling:DLLTest_DLL.bmx
Linking:DLLTest_DLL.debug
/usr/bin/ld: Undefined symbols:
_bbGCEnter
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
Build Error: Failed to link /Users/rozek/BlitzMax/DLLTest_DLL.debug.app/Contents/MacOS/DLLTest_DLL.debug
Process complete

Does anybody have an idea why?

Use dll‘s on MacOS X????? Is this possible!!!!!!!

No.

@MacSven: No, but using the equivalent (a MacOS shared library - a .dylib) is possible.

I've tried to build a screensaver framework... no joy - doesn't like the non-relocatable assembler which BlitzMax creates. (well, that's what the error complains about).

It's possible that a dynamic library *may* work, but I have not tried it yet - no need.

Ah, so a dylib and a shared object/library are two different things..

Hello!

Thanks for all your answers.

I've (almost immediately) managed to produce a .dylib using the free XCode development system - but I will have to code in C (or C++) then, which I would like to avoid.

But, since PureBasic is currently unable to build .dylibs as well, it seems as if I would have to continue with C.

Is there any chance that BlitzMAX could "learn" how to produce .dylibs? (compiler/assembler flag, injecting an intermediate (C/C++) code into XCode, or some other weird but automatable solution?)

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Brucey, you tried screensavers that support blitzmax code on the mac? How did that go in general? I tried it too but all that objective c framework stuff is not my forte.