What is GLU? How is it different from OpenGL?
If you think of OpenGL as a low-level 3D graphics library, think of GLU as adding some higher-level functionality not provided by OpenGL. Some of GLU’s features include: • Scaling of 2D images and creation of mipmap pyramids Transformation of object coordinates into device coordinates and vice versa Support for NURBS surfaces Support for tessellation of concave or bow tie polygonal primitives Specialty transformation matrices for creating perspective and orthographic projections, positioning a camera, and selection/picking Rendering of disk, cylinder, and sphere primitives Interpreting OpenGL error values as ASCII text The best source of information on GLU is the OpenGL red and blue books and the GLU specification, which you can obtain from the OpenGL org Web page.
