BT411/context/wintesla-port.md

---
id: wintesla-port
title: "The WinTesla Windows Port — the base everything builds on"
status: established
source_sections: "PROGRESS_LOG.md §5b, §8"
related_topics: [source-completeness, rendering, build-and-run, multiplayer]
key_terms: [WinTesla, L4D3D, MUNGA, RP, DPL]
---

# The WinTesla Windows Port

The `Elsewhen RP411` archive is a **working Windows port of the MUNGA engine** (VS2005,
`WinTesla.sln`). It means the hardest infrastructure is **already solved** — the bt411 build sits
on top of it. Full detail: `docs/PROGRESS_LOG.md §5b, §8`.

## What WinTesla already did (do NOT rebuild)
- **Renderer bypass: DONE** — `MUNGA_L4/L4D3D.cpp` + `DXUtils` replace libDPL / the IG board with
  Direct3D9. No `libdpl.lib` in the tree. (The early from-scratch D3D9 viewer was retired and removed.) [T1]
- **Audio: BACKEND now REAL + soundbank loaded; only game-triggering remains** [T2, updated
  2026-07-15]. OpenAL replaces the HMI "SOS" engine and the renderer→device→buffer→source→play chain
  IS all implemented (`L4AUDRND`/`L4AUDRES`/`L4AUDLVL`; `PatchLevelOfDetail::PlayNote` really calls
  `alSourcePlay`). The "no sound, ever" root cause was DEEPER than a gate — **both audio backend DLLs
  shipped in `engine/lib/` were no-op STUBS**: (a) `libsndfile-1.dll` exports 15 funcs BY ORDINAL
  ONLY (no names), `sf_open()` always returns NULL; (b) `OpenAL32.dll` (72KB) imported **only
  KERNEL32** — no dsound/wasapi/winmm — so it returned fake handles (`ctx=0x00000001`,
  `alGenSources→0`) and never touched the hardware. So the chain ran clean and silent. FIXES (commit
  5b46655): **OpenAL32.dll → real OpenAL Soft 1.25.2 Win32** (drop-in: the exe imports the 25 AL funcs
  by NAME; `alSourcePlay` now reaches `AL_PLAYING`). **libsndfile DROPPED** — replaced by `LoadWavPCM()`
  in `L4AUDRES` (a tiny in-tree RIFF/WAVE fmt+data reader, no external dep). Gates fixed earlier: the
  `AWE_FRONT`/`AWE_REAR` env-var gate in `MakeAudioRenderer` was **relaxed to default-on** (`BT_NO_AUDIO=1`
  disables). **Soundbank recovered**: 241 samples cracked from `AUDIO1/2.RES` (SF2 v1.0) by
  `tools/sf2extract.py` → `content/AUDIO/*.wav` + the `allPresets[2][128]` table (`audiopresets.cpp`,
  replacing the zero-init btstubs stub); all 241 load (`alErr=0`). **In-game triggering now WORKS** (commit 7b1e469): enabling audio unlocked
  `L4AudioRenderer::CreateEntityAudioObjects`, which binds `AudioStateWatcher`s to entity/subsystem
  state attrs BY NAME (the **attribute-pointer** databinding, same as gauges) and calls
  `AddAudioWatcher` on the resolved `StateIndicator`. The reconstruction had pointed the Mech's state
  attrs at the scalar read-pad `attrPad` (fine for a gauge that READs a value, fatal for a state watcher
  that calls a METHOD → AV in `SChainOf::Add` on 0xCDCDCDCD). FIXED: the Mech's `AnimationState`/
  `ReplicantAnimationState` (driven from `SetBodyAnimation`) and `CollisionState` (driven from
  `ProcessCollision` via `collisionTemporaryState`) are now real `StateIndicator` members — **verified:
  walking fires `SetupPatch`+`PlayNote`/`alSourcePlay` (footstep/gait patches 78/80/116)**. So mech
  movement/animation/collision audio is live. **Subsystem STATE audio DONE** (commits 5ba541e/0e05a22/dcdd7dd):
  the audio watcher TYPE per attribute was recovered via a `MakeObjectImplementation` ClassID trace
  (class 28 = `AudioStateTrigger`/StateIndicator). KEY: the binary's 0x54-byte subsystem alarm
  (`FUN_0041b9ec`, reconstructed as `GaugeAlarm54`) **IS a StateIndicator** — its "three sub-indicators"
  @0x18/0x2c/0x40 are the audio/video/gauge watcher SChains, `level@0x14` = currentState. The
  reconstruction had modeled that tail as an opaque `_tail` (never constructed → AddAudioWatcher AV'd on
  0xCDCDCDCD). FIX: `GaugeAlarm54` now has three REAL constructed sockets + `AddAudioWatcher`; `SetLevel`
  fires them on change (empty sockets = no-op, so other alarms/weapons unaffected; `levelB`/`LevelCountB`
  untouched; sizeof stays 0x54). Then registered each state attr → its subsystem's own alarm (own
  `AttributePointers[]` chained to the parent): `Generator.GeneratorState`→stateAlarm,
  `Condenser.CondenserState`→condenserAlarm, `Reservoir.ReservoirState`→reservoirAlarm,
  `AmmoBin.AmmoState`→ammoAlarm (+ chained AmmoBin's bare index so `SimulationState` resolves too).
  `GeneratorOn`→generatorOn. **audiostate skips 85 → 0** — every StateIndicator audio attribute across
  the mech + all subsystems binds to a real indicator, and the alarms are already `SetLevel`'d by the
  sims, so generator/condenser/reservoir/ammo state sounds fire on transition. **Still inert** (read 0,
  silent, non-crashing — no modeled backing member in the size-locked layouts, a polish follow-up):
  `ReportLeak` (Logical), `Torso.MotionState` (Enum), `Torso.SpeedOfTorsoHorizontal` (Scalar).
  NOW REAL (fidelity Phase 1, commit fc7f311): `ConfigureActivePress` published at the **MechSubsystem
  BASE** (binary attr id 2, descriptor @0x50de5c → member @+0x110 — the field previously misnamed
  `vitalSubsystemIndex`; idle −1, driven 0/−1 by `MechWeapon::ConfigureMappablesMessageHandler`),
  `AmmoBin.FireCountdownStarted` → `cookOffArmed`@0x18C, `L4MechControlsMapper.TargetRangeExponent` →
  `targetRangeExponent`@0x1a4. The **bring-up guards**
  [T3, self-clearing] stay: a NULL subsystem attr → inert pad (was a fatal `Fail`); an
  `AudioStateWatcher` on an unconstructed indicator (chain@+0x18 null/0xCDCDCDCD) → skip. Both pass
  automatically once a subsystem is built. Diagnostics: `BT_AUDIO_LOG` (chain + skips/redirects), `BT_ATTRBIND_LOG` (every
  attr bind), `BT_AUDIO_TEST` (proof-of-life buffer0).
- **Audio FIDELITY pass (2026-07-16, commits fc7f311 + 691e885; the full audit ledger is
  `docs/AUDIO_FIDELITY.md`, 37 findings).** Settled facts [T1 unless noted]:
  - **Patch numbering = SF2 `wPreset`.** Any tooling must key presets on `wPreset`, never on phdr
    record order. `AUDIO1/2.RES` are SF2 **v1.0** (16-byte shdr, NO name/rate/pitch field); pitch
    metadata rides generators: 55 = SBK samplePitch (`root*100+cents`, on every zone), 58 =
    overridingRootKey, 51/52 = coarse/fineTune. **EMU8000 v1 base rate = 44100 Hz** → a zone's true
    data rate is baked into its WAV: `rate = round(44100·2^(((6000−rootCents)+tune)/1200))`
    (`tools/sf2extract.py`); the engine's note-60 pitch model (`BTNotePitchFactor`) then reproduces
    original playback at every note. SBK `initialAttenuation`(48) is **INVERTED** (127 = full
    volume; 0.375 dB/step [T3 exact curve], baked into the PCM).
  - **Full-zone table**: 603 zones / 241 presets in `audiopresets.cpp`; the authored MIDI note
    SELECTS zones by keyRange in `SetupPatch/PlayNote` (key-splits: Loaded/Jam family low-36
    clunk vs high-84 blip; Warnings01 8-way klaxon split), layers attach together,
    `MAX_PRESET_SAMPLES=25` (AllExplosion). Authored loop REGIONS apply via `AL_SOFT_loop_points`;
    authored `releaseVolEnv` (1.1–3.9 s on ~20 looping presets) fades on Stop
    (`PRESET_serviceReleaseFades`, serviced from `AudioHead::Execute`).
  - **Distance/volume/doppler**: OpenAL distance model is `AL_NONE` — the AUTHORED
    `GetDistanceVolumeScale()` curve multiplies in `CalculateSourceVolumeScale` (Dynamic3D +
    Static3D); per-source `AL_GAIN = volume_scale²` (GM CC7 squared law); `alDopplerFactor(0)` —
    the authored `GetDopplerCents()` (AUDIO.INI model, consumer decomp part_008.c:7466) adds into
    the Dynamic3D pitch chain.
  - **Audio clock**: `FUN_0044e19c` is `ApplicationManager::GetFrameRate` — the original audio
    "frames" were SYSTEM CLOCK TICKS; `MakeAudioRenderer` calibrates at
    `SystemClock::GetTicksPerSecond()` (fallback 1000), never the old garbage
    `divisionParameters+0x10` read.
  - **Published `localVelocity` smoothing is authentic** [T1]: `Mech::Execute` (FUN_004ab430) runs
    the localVelocity components through `AverageOf` running-average filters
    (part_012.c:15169-15179); the port's ~0.25 s exponential filter in `mech4.cpp` reconstructs it.
  - **Phases 3+4 SHIPPED (2026-07-16, commits 0ca7d26..0e2401f).** Phase 3 EFX: `L4AUDEFX`
    bridge — per-source lowpass (Dyn3D = highFreqCutoffScale×brightness UNGATED, Static/Direct =
    brightness; AWE 100–8000 Hz → 5 kHz-ref gainhf [T3 curve]), one EAXReverb slot at
    global_reverb_scale 0.3 (3D wet / cockpit Direct dry), Direct position-enum placement.
    Phase 4 attributes (all [T1] from binary attribute tables, walked as 16-byte
    {id,name,off+1,pad} rows): **HeatSink table @0x50e438 (ids 3..12)** confirms every heat
    binding + adds ReportLeak id 12 @0x138 = coolantActive (serves all 19 leak watchers via
    PoweredSubsystem⊂HeatSink); **Mech table @0x50c0xx (ids 21..56)**: IncomingLock@0x3fc /
    DistanceToMissile@0x400 (real members, Missile::MoveAndCollide reports, PerformAndWatch
    latches; old `maxSpeed@0x400` was a misread of the FLT_MAX far default),
    CollisionSpeed@0x4B4 (=|impact velocity| at contact-arm), ReduceButton@0x340,
    FootStep@0x394, RearFiring@0x410 (old `stateFlags` misread); **Torso table (ids 3..15)**:
    full publish onto existing members (SpeedOfTorsoHorizontal=twistVelocity@0x1E8 abs'd,
    MotionState=statusFlags@0x20C, ==2 = limit-hit frame).  **F5 footStep = CONTACT LEVEL**:
    (jointlocal.y <= *ANI hdr[2] threshold) per frame, states 0/1 retain (SelectSequence now
    captures hdr[2]; the 150 ms pulse is retired).  **F19**: the authored footstep volume =
    LocalAcceleration |lin| [0,10]→ctl100 + LocalVelocity |lin| [0,0.6]→ctl101 (ALL motion
    watchers extract |linearMotion|, motionValue=3); localAcceleration.linear = d(published
    velocity)/dt (binary part_012.c:15186-15195); the mech2.cpp step broadcast is REMOVED.
    **attrnull count = 0** — every authored audio attribute binds a real member.
  - **Post-Phase-4 closures (2026-07-16):** UnstablePercentage is LIVE (the instability model
    @0x3F0 byte-decoded + reconstructed — accel-sway² + gun-the-engine + turn-in-place terms,
    feeds gyro swayBias + the audio alarm; commit c51d64a). The F14 per-zone static resonant
    low-pass is BAKED (RBJ biquad at the AWE 100–8000 Hz curve, float pipeline + peak
    normalization; 232 zones incl the LaserLoaded charge hum fc=57 Q=87; c581553). The
    **footstep 10–20 s warm-up bug** is fixed (a11a697): an idle source's watcher chain executes
    only at Start attempts and each hop is audio-frame-gated, so the authored fill-0 N=30
    smoothers starved behind the 0.3 transient drop gate — fixes: AudioScaleOf sends EVERY poll
    (the bitwise change-gate froze on our deterministic gait floats), recursive gate-free
    Component::PrimeWatchers(30) on every transient Start request (AUDREND), and
    localAcceleration via the binary's exact 15-sample ring buffers.  LESSON: trace caps
    saturate early and fake "per-stride" rates — always timestamp before inferring cadence.
  - Still deferred: F21 attack velocity/time (all captured events were default 1), F22 HRTF
    (user has 2 speakers; enable via alsoft.ini `hrtf=true` for headphones).
  - **Energy-weapon post-beam buzz = AUTHENTIC (Gitea #5 verdict, 2026-07-20)** [T2, measured]:
    the reported "buzz/electrical sustaining 1–2 s past the beam" is the AUTHORED charge loop
    (`LaserACharge01-04`, looped, release 1.309 s), started by the WeaponState==3 (Loading) watcher
    at beam-off, volume authored to track PercentDone (crescendo to ready), stopped on 3→2 with the
    authored 1.309 s release fade.  Measured live (BT_AUD_TAIL=1 + BT_FIRE_PULSE single shots):
    beam 203–207 ms (authored DischargeTime 0.2 s); sustain loops cut ≤2 ms after leave-Firing
    (authored release 0); charge StopNote ≤2 ms after Loading→Loaded; fades 1.311–1.326 s vs
    authored 1.309 s (≤ 1 frame over); laser recharge 2.3–3.8 s, PPC 8.8–16.3 s under multi-weapon
    generator load (authentic electrical model).  NOT the #12 source overflow — no energy preset
    exceeds 5 zones (max 3; >5 is only the death/UI families: AllExplosion 25, MechExplosion01/
    Death01 16, AllButtons 14, AllCoolant/AllProjectile 9, Warnings01/AuxExplosion01/AllHits 8,
    AllWarning 7).  Caveat: the reporter's 2026-07-18 build predated 2edde29 (Emitter::SetDirty
    DelayWatchersFlag poison retirement — PerformAndWatch skips ExecuteWatchers while set,
    SIMULATE.cpp:461; cleared only by the encore path, UPDATE.cpp:215), which made emitter audio
    watcher timing encore-erratic that session.  Harness kept (env-gated, additive): `[aud-tail]`
    logging in `L4AUDLVL.cpp` (PLAY/STOP/fade) + `emitter.cpp` (state transitions), and
    `BT_FIRE_PULSE="on,off"` single-shot trigger pulsing in `mech4.cpp`.
- **Audio-dropout fix (field 2026-07-23: "cutting in and out toward the end of the match")** [T2,
  code-verified vs the AL spec; awaiting live playtest confirm]: three structural defects in the
  port's OpenAL source-pool lifecycle (`L4AUDRND.cpp` / `L4AUDIO.cpp` / `L4AUDHDW.h`):
  (1) `SourceSet.sources[]` was **uninitialized heap garbage** until first acquisition — AL names
  are small ints, so a recycled-heap slot could alias a LIVE source owned by another sound;
  `alIsSource()` then skipped generation, two sounds shared one source, and whichever released
  first deleted the other's source mid-play (random sound deaths worsening with heap churn).
  Fix: `SourceSet` ctor zero-inits (0 is never a valid name). (2) `ReleaseSourceSet` used bulk
  `alDeleteSources(count, sources)`, which is **ATOMIC on invalid names** — one empty/-1 slot
  (partial set, double release) and NOTHING deleted; after the first pool exhaustion every partial
  release leaked and the pool never recovered. Fix: per-slot guarded delete, slots parked at 0.
  (3) Failed acquisitions stranded partial sets forever — dropped transients are never released by
  anything (the dtor didn't release; maintenance only touches running sources). Fix: handback via
  `ReleaseChannels()` at both failure sites (StartRequest + dormant-resume) + a dtor backstop.
  Context: the port's `RequestAudioChannels` has NO channel budget (the 1995 per-card budget is
  the commented-out block) — it alGenSources until OpenAL Soft's ~256 cap; on failure a transient
  is silently dropped (StartRequest early-return), a sustained goes dormant — which is exactly the
  "cutting in and out" presentation. Priority-steal (`RequestAudioResources`) only engages at cap.
  PERMANENT diagnostics: 30 s `[audio] source census: live/acquireFails` + an always-on
  `[audio] ACQUIRE FAILED` line. Baseline (2-node soak): live ≈ 21 peak under fire, 0 at mission
  end; exhaustion needs 7-player scale or the leak spiral, aliasing needs neither.
- **L4 HAL on Windows + the VS build system: DONE.** [T1]
- **Red Planet game logic: COMPLETE & buildable** — `VTV/VTVMPPR/WEAPSYS/...`. RP is at/near playable. [T1]
- **Multiplayer: the DOS `NETNUB` driver is already replaced by a ~3.5k-line WinSock2 TCP
  reimplementation** (`MUNGA_L4/L4NET.CPP`) + the master/replicant distributed-sim core. See
  [[multiplayer]]. [T1]

## What BT still needs (the only remaining work below the game layer is NONE)
Everything below the game layer — engine, renderer, audio, HAL, build — exists and is shared. The
ONLY thing BT needs is its **game-logic source**, which is gone (see [[source-completeness]]) → it
must be **reconstructed**, with the three anchors (BT headers + the WinTesla engine to compile
against + RP's parallel code + the binary oracle). [T2]

## Build implications
- `WinTesla.sln` is **VS2005** and hard-depends on the **legacy DirectX SDK (June 2010)** (`d3dx9`,
  `dinput`, `dxerr` — all removed from the modern Windows SDK). The DXSDK is installed at
  `C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft DirectX SDK (June 2010)\`. [T2]
- The shared engine builds GREEN to `munga_engine.lib` via CMake/MSVC Win32 (see [[build-and-run]]).
  Recipe gotchas (include-path shadowing, the CAMMGR/time.h fixes, the ATL shim) are in
  `docs/PROGRESS_LOG.md §8`. [T2]

## Roadmap position
Old plan ("build a libDPL shim + port the engine") is **superseded** — WinTesla did it. New plan:
reuse the WinTesla engine (shared) + reconstruct the BT game library (`BT410_L4` + game logic). The
from-scratch libDPL shim is no longer needed. Phases 4-8 (BT game layer + pod bring-up) still apply.
[T2]

## Key Relationships
- Solves: the infrastructure that [[source-completeness]] would otherwise require.
- Feeds: [[build-and-run]], [[rendering]], [[multiplayer]].