C++ game loop example

Question

Can someone write up a source for a program that just has a "game loop", which just keeps looping until you press Esc, and the program shows a basic image. Heres the source I have right now but I have to use SDL_Delay(2000); to keep the program alive for 2 seconds, during which the program is frozen.

#include "SDL.h"

int main(int argc, char* args[]) {

    SDL_Surface* hello = NULL;
    SDL_Surface* screen = NULL;

    SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_EVERYTHING);

    screen = SDL_SetVideoMode(640, 480, 32, SDL_SWSURFACE);

    hello = SDL_LoadBMP("hello.bmp");

    SDL_BlitSurface(hello, NULL, screen, NULL);

    SDL_Flip(screen);

    SDL_Delay(2000);

    SDL_FreeSurface(hello);

    SDL_Quit();

    return 0;

}

I just want the program to be open until I press Esc. I know how the loop works, I just don't know if I implement inside the main() function, or outside of it. I've tried both, and both times it failed. If you could help me out that would be great :P

Answer 1

Tried with something like

  SDL_Event e;
  while( SDL_WaitEvent(&e) )
  {
    if (e.type == SDL_KEYDOWN && e.key.keysym.sym == SDLK_ESCAPE) break;
  }

? You can find many tutorials and example out there; just a fast-search example.

Added note: WaitEvent "freezes" the program so you can't do anything .. you just wait; other waiting technics can be desired (as PollEvent, or WaitEvent again after the initializtion of a timer).