pygame.examples

module of example programs

These examples should help get you started with pygame. Here is a brief rundown of what you get. The source code for these examples is in the public domain. Feel free to use for your own projects.

There are several ways to run the examples. First they can be run as stand-alone programs. Second they can be imported and their main() methods called (see below). Finally, the easiest way is to use the python -m option:

python -m pygame.examples.<example name> <example arguments>

eg:

python -m pygame.examples.scaletest someimage.png

Resources such as images and sounds for the examples are found in the pygame/examples/data subdirectory.

You can find where the example files are installed by using the following commands inside the python interpreter.

>>> import pygame.examples.scaletest
>>> pygame.examples.scaletest.__file__
'/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/pygame/examples/scaletest.py'

On each OS and version of Python the location will be slightly different. For example on Windows it might be in 'C:/Python26/Lib/site-packages/pygame/examples/' On Mac OS X it might be in '/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.6/lib/python2.6/site-packages/pygame/examples/'

You can also run the examples in the python interpreter by calling each modules main() function.

>>> import pygame.examples.scaletest
>>> pygame.examples.scaletest.main()

We're always on the lookout for more examples and/or example requests. Code like this is probably the best way to start getting involved with python gaming.

examples as a package is new to pygame 1.9.0. But most of the examples came with pygame much earlier.

aliens.main() -> None

play the full aliens example

This started off as a port of the SDL demonstration, Aliens. Now it has evolved into something sort of resembling fun. This demonstrates a lot of different uses of sprites and optimized blitting. Also transparency, colorkeys, fonts, sound, music, joystick, and more. (PS, my high score is 117! goodluck)

oldalien.main() -> None

play the original aliens example

This more closely resembles a port of the SDL Aliens demo. The code is a lot simpler, so it makes a better starting point for people looking at code for the first times. These blitting routines are not as optimized as they should/could be, but the code is easier to follow, and it plays quick enough.

stars.main() -> None

run a simple starfield example

A simple starfield example. You can change the center of perspective by leftclicking the mouse on the screen.

chimp.main() -> None

hit the moving chimp

This simple example is derived from the line-by-line tutorial that comes with pygame. It is based on a 'popular' web banner. Note there are comments here, but for the full explanation, follow along in the tutorial.

moveit.main() -> None

display animated objects on the screen

This is the full and final example from the Pygame Tutorial, "How Do I Make It Move". It creates 10 objects and animates them on the screen.

Note it's a bit scant on error checking, but it's easy to read. :] Fortunately, this is python, and we needn't wrestle with a pile of error codes.

fonty.main() -> None

run a font rendering example

Super quick, super simple application demonstrating the different ways to render fonts with the font module

freetype_misc.main() -> None

run a FreeType rendering example

A showcase of rendering features the pygame.freetype.Font class provides in addition to those available with pygame.font.Font. It is a demonstration of direct to surface rendering, with vertical text and rotated text, opaque text and semi transparent text, horizontally stretched text and vertically stretched text.

vgrade.main() -> None

display a vertical gradient

Demonstrates creating a vertical gradient with pixelcopy and NumPy python. The app will create a new gradient every half second and report the time needed to create and display the image. If you're not prepared to start working with the NumPy arrays, don't worry about the source for this one :]

eventlist.main() -> None

display pygame events

Eventlist is a sloppy style of pygame, but is a handy tool for learning about pygame events and input. At the top of the screen are the state of several device values, and a scrolling list of events are displayed on the bottom.

This is not quality 'ui' code at all, but you can see how to implement very non-interactive status displays, or even a crude text output control.

arraydemo.main(arraytype=None) -> None

show various surfarray effects

Another example filled with various surfarray effects. It requires the surfarray and image modules to be installed. This little demo can also make a good starting point for any of your own tests with surfarray

The arraytype parameter is deprecated; passing any value besides 'numpy' will raise ValueError.

sound.main(file_path=None) -> None

load and play a sound

Extremely basic testing of the mixer module. Load a sound and play it. All from the command shell, no graphics.

If provided, use the audio file 'file_path', otherwise use a default file.

sound.py optional command line argument: an audio file

sound_array_demos.main(arraytype=None) -> None

play various sndarray effects

Uses sndarray and NumPy to create offset faded copies of the original sound. Currently it just uses hardcoded values for the number of echoes and the delay. Easy for you to recreate as needed.

The arraytype parameter is deprecated; passing any value besides 'numpy' will raise ValueError.

liquid.main() -> None

display an animated liquid effect

This example was created in a quick comparison with the BlitzBasic gaming language. Nonetheless, it demonstrates a quick 8-bit setup (with colormap).

glcube.main() -> None

display an animated 3D cube using OpenGL

Using PyOpenGL and pygame, this creates a spinning 3D multicolored cube.

scrap_clipboard.main() -> None

access the clipboard

A simple demonstration example for the clipboard support.

mask.main(*args) -> None

display multiple images bounce off each other using collision detection

Positional arguments:

one or more image file names.

This pygame.masks demo will display multiple moving sprites bouncing off each other. More than one sprite image can be provided.

If run as a program then mask.py takes one or more image files as command line arguments.

testsprite.main(update_rects = True, use_static = False, use_FastRenderGroup = False, screen_dims = [640, 480], use_alpha = False, flags = 0) -> None

show lots of sprites moving around

Optional keyword arguments:

update_rects - use the RenderUpdate sprite group class
use_static - include non-moving images
use_FastRenderGroup - Use the FastRenderGroup sprite group
screen_dims - pygame window dimensions
use_alpha - use alpha blending
flags - additional display mode flags

Like the testsprite.c that comes with SDL, this pygame version shows lots of sprites moving around.

If run as a stand-alone program then no command line arguments are taken.

headless_no_windows_needed.main(fin, fout, w, h) -> None

write an image file that is smoothscaled copy of an input file

arguments:

fin - name of an input image file
fout - name of the output file to create/overwrite
w, h - size of the rescaled image, as integer width and height

How to use pygame with no windowing system, like on headless servers.

Thumbnail generation with scaling is an example of what you can do with pygame.

NOTE: the pygame scale function uses MMX/SSE if available, and can be run in multiple threads.

If headless_no_windows_needed.py is run as a program it takes the following command line arguments:

-scale inputimage outputimage new_width new_height
eg. -scale in.png outpng 50 50

fastevents.main() -> None

stress test the fastevents module

This is a stress test for the fastevents module.

• Fast events does not appear faster!

So far it looks like normal pygame.event is faster by up to two times. So maybe fastevent isn't fast at all.

Tested on Windows XP SP2 Athlon, and FreeBSD.

However... on my Debian Duron 850 machine fastevents is faster.

overlay.main(fname) -> None

play a .pgm video using overlays

Play the .pgm video file given by a path fname.

If run as a program overlay.py takes the file name as a command line argument.

blend_fill.main() -> None

demonstrate the various surface.fill method blend options

A interactive demo that lets one choose which BLEND_xxx option to apply to a surface.

blit_blends.main() -> None

uses alternative additive fill to that of surface.fill

Fake additive blending. Using NumPy. it doesn't clamp. Press r,g,b Somewhat like blend_fill.

cursors.main() -> None

display two different custom cursors

Display an arrow or circle with crossbar cursor.

pixelarray.main() -> None

display various pixelarray generated effects

Display various pixelarray generated effects.

scaletest.main(imagefile, convert_alpha=False, run_speed_test=True) -> None

interactively scale an image using smoothscale

arguments:

imagefile - file name of source image (required)
convert_alpha - use convert_alpha() on the surf (default False)
run_speed_test - (default False)

A smoothscale example that resized an image on the screen. Vertical and horizontal arrow keys are used to change the width and height of the displayed image. If the convert_alpha option is True then the source image is forced to have source alpha, whether or not the original images does. If run_speed_test is True then a background timing test is performed instead of the interactive scaler.

If scaletest.py is run as a program then the command line options are:

ImageFile [-t] [-convert_alpha]
[-t] = Run Speed Test
[-convert_alpha] = Use convert_alpha() on the surf.

midi.main(mode='output', device_id=None) -> None

run a midi example

Arguments:

mode - if 'output' run a midi keyboard output example
          'input' run a midi event logger input example
          'list' list available midi devices
       (default 'output')
device_id - midi device number; if None then use the default midi input or
            output device for the system

The output example shows how to translate mouse clicks or computer keyboard events into midi notes. It implements a rudimentary button widget and state machine.

The input example shows how to translate midi input to pygame events.

With the use of a virtual midi patch cord the output and input examples can be run as separate processes and connected so the keyboard output is displayed on a console.

new to pygame 1.9.0

scroll.main(image_file=None) -> None

run a Surface.scroll example that shows a magnified image

This example shows a scrollable image that has a zoom factor of eight. It uses the Surface.scroll() function to shift the image on the display surface. A clip rectangle protects a margin area. If called as a function, the example accepts an optional image file path. If run as a program it takes an optional file path command line argument. If no file is provided a default image file is used.

When running click on a black triangle to move one pixel in the direction the triangle points. Or use the arrow keys. Close the window or press ESC to quit.

camera.main() -> None

display video captured live from an attached camera

A simple live video player, it uses the first available camera it finds on the system.

playmus.main(file_path) -> None

play an audio file

A simple music player with window and keyboard playback control. Playback can be paused and rewound to the beginning.