# mystery-sdl: porting the Mystery screen saver to SDL2

> mystery-sdl ports the Microsoft Plus! Mystery screen saver to SDL2 on Linux. After REA-assisted analysis of the original binaries, it reimplements sprite, animation and sound services in C, translates the plugin logic, and reads scene data from the user's Mystery.dll.

- Type: Case study
- Targets: App
- Category: Community REA investigations
- Relationship: Author-reported mixed workflow
- Sources reviewed: 2026-11-09
- Added to the catalog: 2026-11-09
- Original resource: <https://github.com/viny182/mystery-sdl>
- Primary source: <https://github.com/viny182/mystery-sdl/blob/fec0d3ce57df1dbdfe372d3eb31157fa42fa1ac8/README.md>
- Catalog page: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/mystery-sdl-case/>
- Record JSON: <https://awesomerea.org/resources/mystery-sdl-case/record.json>
- Chinese version: [简体中文](https://awesomerea.org/zh/resources/mystery-sdl-case/index.md)

## Requirements & limits

- **Prerequisites:** The original Mystery.dll from a legitimately obtained Microsoft Plus! for Windows 95 copy is required.
- **Prerequisites:** Building requires a C compiler, make, pkg-config and SDL2 development files version 2.0.5 or newer.
- **Testing evidence:** The author reports testing only on x86-64 Arch Linux and comparing the first frame with the original under Wine; individual animation timing remains unverified.
- **License:** MIT license.

## Primary sources

1. <https://github.com/viny182/mystery-sdl/blob/fec0d3ce57df1dbdfe372d3eb31157fa42fa1ac8/README.md>
2. <https://github.com/viny182/mystery-sdl/blob/fec0d3ce57df1dbdfe372d3eb31157fa42fa1ac8/LICENSE>

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## About this entry

The description was reviewed against primary sources.
Original editorial content: MIT. Linked projects, papers and assets retain their own rights and licenses.