diff --git a/checkin_notes b/checkin_notes
index 74a0c0424a..ede9e1e7a6 100755
--- a/checkin_notes
+++ b/checkin_notes
@@ -394,3 +394,14 @@ Michael Gary	June 07, 2002
     lib/
 	parse.C
 
+Eric Heien    June 07, 2002
+    - Added initial functionality for passing graphics preferences between core and app
+
+    client/
+        Makefile.in
+        app.C
+    lib/
+        gfx_interface.C
+        gfx_interface.h
+
+
diff --git a/client/Makefile.in b/client/Makefile.in
index d16479f7be..2dc0fc4f69 100644
--- a/client/Makefile.in
+++ b/client/Makefile.in
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ OBJS = \
     speed_stats.o \
     time_stats.o \
     util.o \
+    ../lib/gfx_interface.o \
     ../lib/parse.o \
     ../lib/md5_file.o \
     ../lib/md5.o
diff --git a/client/app.C b/client/app.C
index 61bc9743ab..b821c9ef2f 100644
--- a/client/app.C
+++ b/client/app.C
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 #include "file_names.h"
 #include "log_flags.h"
 #include "parse.h"
+#include "gfx_interface.h"
 
 #include "app.h"
 
@@ -100,7 +101,16 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::start(bool first_time) {
     FILE_REF file_ref;
     FILE_INFO* fip;
     int fd, retval;
+    char prefs_path[256];
+    FILE *prefs_fd;
+    GFX_INTERFACE *gi = new GFX_INTERFACE;
 
+    gi->width = 640;
+    gi->height = 480;
+    gi->depth = 32;
+    gi->fps = 5;
+    gi->draw_offscreen = 1;
+    gi->shared_mem_key = ftok(dirname, 'B'); // Generate a unique identifier
 
 #ifdef unix
     pid = fork();
@@ -131,6 +141,12 @@ int ACTIVE_TASK::start(bool first_time) {
             }
         }
         
+        // Write out the app prefs
+        sprintf( prefs_path, "%s/%s", dirname, "prefs.xml" );
+        prefs_fd = fopen( prefs_path, "w" );
+        gi->write_prefs(prefs_fd);
+        fclose(prefs_fd);
+
         // create symbolic links, and hook up descriptors, for input files
         //
         for (i=0; i<wup->input_files.size(); i++) {
diff --git a/lib/gfx_interface.C b/lib/gfx_interface.C
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0f5a6bc6d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/gfx_interface.C
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <unistd.h>
+#include "gfx_interface.h"
+#include "parse.h"
+
+int GFX_INTERFACE::write_prefs(FILE *fout) {
+    fprintf( fout, 
+        "<gfx_prefs>\n"
+        "    <gfx_width>%d</gfx_width>\n"
+        "    <gfx_height>%d</gfx_height>\n"
+        "    <gfx_depth>%d</gfx_depth>\n"
+        "    <gfx_fps>%f</gfx_fps>\n"
+        "    <gfx_shmem_key>%d</gfx_shmem_key>\n"
+        "</gfx_prefs>",
+        width, height, depth, fps, shared_mem_key
+    );
+    return 0;
+}
+
+int GFX_INTERFACE::parse(FILE* fin) {
+    char buf[256];
+
+    fgets(buf, 256, fin);
+    if (!match_tag(buf, "<gfx_prefs>")) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "GFX_INTERFACE::parse(): bad first tag %s\n", buf);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    while(fgets(buf,256,fin)) {
+        if (match_tag(buf, "</gfx_prefs>")) return 0;
+        else if (parse_int(buf, "<gfx_width>", width)) continue;
+        else if (parse_int(buf, "<gfx_height>", height)) continue;
+        else if (parse_int(buf, "<gfx_depth>", depth)) continue;
+        else if (parse_double(buf, "<gfx_fps>", fps)) continue;
+        else if (parse_int(buf, "<gfx_shmem_key>", shared_mem_key)) continue;
+        else fprintf(stderr, "GFX_INTERFACE::parse(): unrecognized: %s\n", buf);
+    }
+    return -1;
+}
+
+int GFX_INTERFACE::open_parse_prefs( void ) {
+    FILE *prefs;
+    int err;
+
+    prefs = fopen( "prefs.xml", "r" );
+    if( prefs == NULL )
+        return -1;
+
+    rewind( prefs );
+    err = parse( prefs );
+    fclose( prefs );
+
+    return err;
+}
diff --git a/lib/gfx_interface.h b/lib/gfx_interface.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9aec1088ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/gfx_interface.h
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#include <sys/types.h>
+#include <sys/ipc.h>
+#include <sys/shm.h>
+
+#define DRAW_OFFSCREEN      0x01
+#define DRAW_ONSCREEN       0x02
+
+// Status flags
+#define ERROR               -1
+#define WAITING_FOR_APP     0
+#define APP_READY           1
+#define APP_REQUEST         2
+#define BUFFER_DIRTY        3
+#define BUFFER_CLEAN        4
+
+#ifndef _GFX_INTERFACE
+#define _GFX_INTERFACE
+
+struct GFX_INTERFACE {
+        int width, height;      // in pixels
+        int depth;              // in bits (8. 16, 24, etc)
+        double fps;             // max frames per second to draw (can be < 1)
+        int draw_offscreen;     // should we draw offscreen/onscreen/anything
+        int shared_mem_key;     // key for graphics shared memory region
+        int offscreen_dirty;    // is the offscreen buffer ready for blitting?
+
+        int status;             // status of graphics rendering (see flags above)
+        char *graphicsData;
+        int shared_mem_allocated;
+
+        int write_prefs(FILE*);
+        int parse(FILE*);
+        int open_parse_prefs();
+};
+
+#endif _GFX_INTERFACE