@utri007
SDL often assumes that the systems it supports have chunky graphics modes. Chunky graphics are consistently faster than planar at almost every operation. The only time planar can outperform chunky is at low bit-depths. Odd bit-depths like 32 colors (5 bits-per-pixel) would also be impossible without bitplanes.
If this is about the NatAmi or the FPGAArcade being slowed down by SDL, I assure you that it will be possible to optimize to those systems by using their native chunky-pixel support.
Things to note: SDL 1.2.14 and earlier used software CPU blitting at most resolutions while the experimental 1.3 versions due for release soon rest heavily on OpenGL and require 3D accelerated texturing to do such things as image rotations. Also SDL 1.3 is under a more liberal license than the earlier versions.
As such, many of the problems you fear will come to pass will not affect the final version of the NatAmi. It will affect only the earlier Amigas due to their dependence on bit-planes.
