libsamp

Libre-SAMP: experimental drop-in replacement for the SA-MP 0.3.7-R5 samp.dll.

Runtime traces, original DLL reverse engineering, open.mp compatibility work, and an ASI probe for reproducible client-side instrumentation.

---

TL;DR

git clone --recurse-submodules https://github.com/Knogle/libsamp
cd libsamp

reimpl/scripts/build_win32.sh
tools/asi_probe/build_win32.sh

Build outputs:

• build-win32/samp.dll
• build-asi-probe/samp_probe.asi

The build ships the vendored Knogle/RakNet submodule as the SA-MP/open.mp-compatible network transport source.

Use this only with local development servers and controlled test environments. It is not a cheat, bypass, or public-server abuse toolkit.

What It Is

libsamp, written out as Libre-SAMP, targets one concrete artifact: a compatible drop-in replacement for the SA-MP 0.3.7-R5 client samp.dll.

The short-term runtime still expects an existing GTA San Andreas installation with the SA-MP client files installed by the normal SA-MP installer. This repository does not ship proprietary client assets, game files, or a complete client distribution. The goal is to replace the DLL in that existing install while preserving protocol and runtime compatibility with 0.3.7-compatible servers, including open.mp compatibility paths.

The project is driven by observed behavior from the original DLL, ASI probe golden traces, and public engine/protocol references. Proprietary binaries, game assets, and local reverse-engineering workspaces are intentionally not part of this repository.

Current Status

This is not feature-complete. The current network-enabled development milestone can connect, enter the gameplay state on tested local servers, handle chat/dialog flows, spawn the local player, create vehicles, show core HUD/UI elements, and render a growing subset of TextDraw behavior.

Known active work areas:

• Remote player sync, interpolation, nametags, and radar blips.
• Full RPC coverage with safe stubs and bounds-checked payload readers.
• SA-MP custom object loading and material handling.
• TextDraw parity for model previews, sprites, spacing, selection, and alpha.
• Vehicle sync details such as components, lock state, objective markers, and streaming budget.
• CI parity checks once public reference fixtures are available.

See repo/TASK_TRACKER.md for the current task tracker.

Screenshots

Current development snapshots from local compatibility runs:

Gameplay state, HUD, chat, and world text rendering.	SA-MP-style dialog rendering during pre-connect flow.
Pre-connect panorama camera and status overlay.	Vehicles, local world streaming, and server-driven objects.
Custom loading screen asset path.	Player list overlay with local and remote player rows.

Highlights

• Win32 samp.dll drop-in rebuild with PE/export compatibility tracking.
• Vendored Knogle/RakNet transport path for SA-MP/open.mp-oriented networking.
• Runtime bridge for GTA-SA state, UI, dialogs, chat, TextDraws, vehicles, and basic world state.
• ASI probe included under tools/asi_probe for repeatable instrumentation and golden trace collection.
• Evidence-tagged documentation model: OBSERVED_037, PROBE_TRACE, STATIC_037, OPENMP_REF, GTA_REVERSED_REF, INFERRED, and TODO_VERIFY.

Build From Source

Requirements

On Linux, install:

• CMake
• Ninja
• MinGW-w64 i686 GCC/G++
• Git submodule support

Fedora example:

sudo dnf install cmake ninja-build mingw32-gcc mingw32-gcc-c++

Debian/Ubuntu example:

sudo apt-get install cmake ninja-build gcc-mingw-w64-i686 g++-mingw-w64-i686

Build The DLL

git submodule update --init --recursive
reimpl/scripts/build_win32.sh

This is the same public CI-style build used by GitHub Actions. It verifies the DLL surface, runtime bridge, and vendored RakNet-backed network path without depending on local-only reference workspaces.

Build The ASI Probe

tools/asi_probe/build_win32.sh

The probe builds to build-asi-probe/samp_probe.asi and is loaded by a normal ASI loader from the game root or an ASI loader search path.

GitHub Actions

The repository contains a CI workflow at .github/workflows/build.yml. It builds:

• samp.dll
• samp_probe.asi
• SHA256SUMS.txt

The CI artifact build intentionally avoids proprietary inputs and local-only reference paths. Runtime parity still depends on golden-trace verification.

Documentation

• Task tracker
• Publication checklist
• Reverse-engineering evidence guide
• TextDraw render stack notes
• Custom asset pipeline notes
• ASI probe README

Scope And Safety

This project is for compatibility research, local testing, and preservation of 0.3.7-compatible client behavior. Do not use it to cheat, evade bans, bypass server protections, or disrupt public servers.

Server-provided data is treated as untrusted. New RPC handlers should be bounds-checked, fail closed, and log unknown behavior before implementing unverified semantics.

License

Libre-SAMP is licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE.

Third-party components and generated asset provenance are documented in NOTICE.md. The repository MIT License does not relicense third-party submodules.

Credits

• SA-MP and GTA-SA modding communities for protocol and engine knowledge.
• open.mp for public server-side compatibility references.
• gta-reversed for public GTA-SA engine research.
• Ultimate ASI Loader and related tooling for the ASI plugin ecosystem.