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[Hippoman]

But to program I need a library. I need a GDK. I NEED TO MAKE WINDOWS!

What's a good library so i can make programs? Since Novalis died.

[qwertyuiopas]

Anything works.

For windows, I personally directly use the win32 API, but SDL works, as well as countless others, most more platform independant than win32.

Also, the language you use will limit your options, but regardless there will be many, few of them that I know myself.

[Hippoman]

how good is open gl?

[qwertyuiopas]

Quite decent, once you understand how to use it, I think.

An example would be

Code: [Select]

glBegin(GL_POINTS);
glVertex3f(0,1,8);
glVertex3f(34,0.01,-4.6);
glVertex3f(92.6,-100,-2);
glVertex3f(0,11,88);
glEnd();
giving 4 points in 3D space, though unless the clipping distance is set far away, most of them might not be visible. Also, points don't scale with distance.

However, the GL_POINTS could be swapped for GL_LINES, that would give two lines, or GL_LINE_LOOP that would give four connected lines. GL_QUADS and GL_POLYGON would both give the same thing, though since I doubt it's in a plane, results might be errorful.

Alot of features are controlled by glEnable(); and glDisable();, so you have to glEnable(GL_BLEND); for transparency better than visible or not, I think, and GL_TEXTURE_2D, if I remember my constant names properly, if you want to use textures.

And past that, I think they recently redesigned everything to a new standard. The Open in OpenGL is open standard, and it is individuals who implement the standard.


As for how good it is, it and DirectX are the two most well-known(and probably best) graphics things, some systems support one, some the other, some both. I think that many/most others use either at a low level, and provide a simple interface for the programmer.

[Hippoman]

ok i wanna use OpenGL, can you give me some links to download and tutorials?

[qwertyuiopas]

Nehe is a decent source for tutorials.
If you can find an online copy of The Red Book, it is good, but all online copies are severely outdated.

[Hippoman]

Ok, but Now i need some help with the actual download.

I have no idea what to do on the website.
And I might need some help setting it up with code::blocks.

[qwertyuiopas]

Download what?

The red book? It's a textbook, but apparently the oldest version(s) was/were released for free. If you can't find it, google opengl red book.

NeHe? There is a "lessons" part in the sidebar.

OpenGL itself? If your compiler is based on MinGW, and I think it it, it is there already. The include for openGL is <gl/gl.h> (And <gl/glu.h>, maybe more), so you can check for /include/gl/ in your compiler's directory.

The IDE? Nope, can't help you there, but I doubt that is your problem.

[Hippoman]

ok I want to test those inlcude's you gave me.

Can you give me a basic code so i can test if those work?

[qwertyuiopas]

Well, just using glEnable(GL_BLEND); would test that a) the gl/gl.h exists, because GL_BLEND is #defined there, and that you have the library file for it (opengl32, though you may have to edit the settings in your IDE to include it.)

If it compiles and links, you have all you need. More complex, however, here is a basic bit of code:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?tlzyizwzowq

It's directly from the tacticus game, but if you can compile it, all should be fine. It just uses the windows API and openGL, so all you would need to do is load all of the source into the IDE and have the linker add opengl32 and glu32.

[Hippoman]

So i'm looking at this: http://www.nullterminator.net/opengl32.html

And i was wondering... DO i still use teh format of C++ like so:

(INcludes)

main();
{

}

[qwertyuiopas]

Yes, except you will almost certainly be using WinMain, and/or some external library to open a window.

[Hippoman]

Yes, except you will almost certainly be using WinMain, and/or some external library to open a window.

I have no idea how to work the download you gave me.

The C file called main wont compile.

[qwertyuiopas]

Basically, compile all, from a windows project, with opengl32 and glu32 included by the linker.

What error(s) does it give? (There are two c files. One of them is graphics manipulation, the other is almost everything else. They both need to be compiled. You probably need -lopengl32 -lglu32 as linker parameters, though the syntax for your IDE may vary. And if you are not on a windows computer, you will have to find out most of the initialization on your own.)

[Hippoman]

Fuck it im lost.

I can't follow any of this shit.
WHy do you programmers have to go and format everything in such a dumbfucking way?!

I tried compiling his sample program. DIDN'T WORK.
Fuck it all. OpenGL sucks.