diff --git a/library/sdl/sdl-utils.factor b/library/sdl/sdl-utils.factor
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..51ad790809
--- /dev/null
+++ b/library/sdl/sdl-utils.factor
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+IN: sdl
+USE: alien
+USE: math
+USE: namespaces
+USE: stack
+USE: compiler
+USE: words
+USE: parser
+USE: kernel
+USE: errors
+USE: combinators
+USE: lists
+USE: logic
+
+SYMBOL: surface
+SYMBOL: width
+SYMBOL: height
+
+: rgba ( r g b a -- n )
+    swap 8 shift bitor
+    swap 16 shift bitor
+    swap 24 shift bitor ;
+
+: pixel-step ( quot #{ x y } -- )
+    tuck >r call >r surface get r> r> >rect rot pixelColor ;
+
+: with-pixels ( w h quot -- )
+    -rot rect> [ over >r pixel-step r> ] 2times* drop ;
+
+: (surface) ( -- surface )
+    SDL_GetVideoSurface
+    dup surface set
+    dup surface-w width set
+    dup surface-h height set ;
+
+: with-surface ( quot -- )
+    #! Execute a quotation, locking the current surface if it
+    #! is required (eg, hardware surface).
+    [
+        (surface) dup must-lock-surface? [
+            dup SDL_LockSurface slip dup SDL_UnlockSurface
+        ] [
+            slip
+        ] ifte SDL_Flip
+    ] with-scope ;
+
+: event-loop ( event -- )
+    dup SDL_WaitEvent 1 = [
+        dup event-type SDL_QUIT = [
+            drop
+        ] [
+            event-loop
+        ] ifte
+    ] [
+        drop
+    ] ifte ;