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Introduction

Welcome to the RealSystem G2 SDK, which RealNetworks has created for developers working with the RealSystem G2 media streaming platform. RealSystem G2 provides the most sophisticated system for streaming multimedia files across a network. This manual will help you use the SDK to produce server-side and client-side plug-ins, as well as media clients based on the RealPlayer engine.

Additional Information
Please be sure to read the SDK license agreement in full. See "RealSystem G2 SDK Agreement".

Using the SDK

Because RealSystem is based on the COM binary standard, you can develop RealSystem components using virtually any programming language. Using the SDK sample files, however, requires using C++. It is important to familiarize yourself with COM before you begin developing RealSystem components. Note, however, that RealSystem diverges from the COM standard to simplify cross-platform development.

Additional Information
See "Chapter 4: Development Framework" for details.

Header Files

The RealSystem header files define the RealSystem interfaces. When you are ready to begin developing RealSystem components, refer to the header files along with this documentation. The header files contain information about function variables and return values not listed in the documentation.

Sample Files

You can use the sample files included with this SDK as templates for building your own RealSystem components. Using the sample code requires a knowledge of C or C++. Except for interfaces that interact with file systems explicitly, all sample code is platform-independent.

Additional Information
RealNetworks recommends using specific compilers for compiling code based on the sample files. For more information, see " Compiling a Plug- In".

RealServer

Use RealServer G2 to test your RealSystem components. RealServer binaries are not included with this SDK, but free downloads of the basic RealServer are available at http://www.real.com/products/.

RealPlayer

The commercial version of RealPlayer G2 is available at http://www.real.com/products. If RealPlayer is not available for your platform, you can use TestPlay.

TestPlay

This SDK includes TestPlay, which implements core RealPlayer functionality without a graphical user interface. You can test your plug-ins with TestPlay, or use the utility as a basis for building your own RealSystem client.

Conventions in this Manual

The following table explains the conventions used in this manual.

Notational Conventions
Convention Meaning
variables Italicized text represents variables. Substitute values appropriate for your situation.
emphasis Bolded text is used for emphasis.
[options] Square brackets indicate optional values you may or may not need to use.
choice 1|choice 2 Vertical lines separate values you can choose between.
... Ellipses indicate nonessential information omitted from the example.

Additional RealSystem G2 Resources

In addition to this manual, you may need the following RealNetworks resources, available at http://service.real.com/help/library/index.html:

Technical Support

For technical support with the RealSystem G2 SDK, please e-mail:

For general information about RealNetworks' technical support, visit:


Copyright © 2000 RealNetworks
For technical support, please contact supportsdk@real.com.
This file last updated on 05/17/00 at 12:50:15.
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