observations-on-the-sublime-dynamics-of-eroding-matter/README.md

# Observations on the Sublime Dynamics of Eroding Matter

A C++ project using SDL2 for graphics and window management.

## Prerequisites

### macOS
Install SDL2 using Homebrew:
```bash
brew install sdl2
```

### Ubuntu/Debian
```bash
sudo apt-get install libsdl2-dev
```

### Windows
Download SDL2 development libraries from [SDL2 website](https://www.libsdl.org/download-2.0.php) or use vcpkg:
```bash
vcpkg install sdl2
```

## Building

### Option 1: Using Build Scripts (Recommended)

#### Unix-like Systems (macOS/Linux)
```bash
# Build the project
./build.sh

# Clean and rebuild
./build.sh -c

# Check dependencies only
./build.sh --check-only

# Show help
./build.sh -h
```

#### Windows
```cmd
# Build the project
build.bat

# Clean and rebuild
build.bat -c

# Check dependencies only
build.bat --check-only

# Show help
build.bat -h
```

### Option 2: Manual Build

1. Create a build directory:
```bash
mkdir build
cd build
```

2. Configure with CMake:
```bash
cmake ..
```

3. Build the project:
```bash
make
```

## Running

From the build directory:
```bash
./observations-on-the-sublime-dynamics-of-eroding-matter
```

## Build Script Features

The build scripts provide:
- **Dependency checking**: Automatically verifies CMake, C++ compiler, and SDL2
- **Cross-platform support**: Works on macOS, Linux, and Windows
- **Smart SDL2 detection**: Finds SDL2 installed via Homebrew, package managers, or system paths
- **Build optimization**: Uses parallel compilation and Release configuration
- **Error handling**: Clear error messages and helpful installation instructions
- **Flexible options**: Clean builds, dependency checks, and future test/install support

## Features

- SDL2 window with 800x600 resolution
- Black background
- Proper event handling (close window to exit)
- Clean resource management