What is OpenGL?
OpenGL is an application program interface that is used to define 2D and 3D computer graphics. This cross-platform API is generally considered to set the standard in the computer industry when it comes to this type of interaction with 2D computer graphics and has also become the usual tool for use with 3D graphics as well. Short for Open Graphics Library, OpenGL eliminated the need for programmers to rewrite the graphics section of an operating system each time a business would upgrade to a new version of the system. The basic function of OpenGL is to issue a specific collection of executables or commands to the operating system. In doing so, the program works with the existing graphics hardware that resides on the hard drive or other specified source. Each command in the set is designed to engage a certain drawing action, or launch a specific special effect associated with the graphics. Creating commands in OpenGL can take place in two different ways. First, it is possible for the pro
In this lesson, you will learn what OpenGL is and how it enables you to program in 3D. What exactly is OpenGL? It’s a way to draw stuff in 3D. It can also be used for 2D drawing, but this site doesn’t focus on that. There are better tools for straight 2D drawing, such as SDL and Allegro. The graphics card is where the 3D computation happens. The purpose of OpenGL is to communicate with the graphics card about your 3D scene. So why not talk to the graphics card directly? Each graphics card is a little different. In a sense, they all speak different “languages”. To talk to them all, you can either learn all of their languages, or find a “translator” that knows all of their languages and talk to the translator, so that you only have to know one language. OpenGL serves as a “translator” for graphics cards. Next is “Part 0: Getting OpenGL Set Up”.
“OpenGL is the premier environment for developing portable, interactive 2D and 3D graphics applications. Since its introduction in 1992, OpenGL has become the industry’s most widely used and supported 2D and 3D graphics application programming interface (API), bringing thousands of applications to a wide variety of computer platforms. OpenGL fosters innovation and speeds application development by incorporating a broad set of rendering, texture mapping, special effects, and other powerful visualization functions. Developers can leverage the power of OpenGL across all popular desktop and workstation platforms, ensuring wide application deployment.” – OpenGL.org The 2 most commonly used graphics APIs are OpenGL and Microsoft’s DirectX. A great advantage of OpenGL is that it is platform independent, allowing your applications to be developed for Windows, Linux, Mac OS and other operating systems.
This article begins a monographic series on OpenGL and its support on Linux. It is intended for programmers who wish to learn how to add high-performance 2D and 3D graphics in their applications. OpenGL is without a doubt the prevailing industry API for developing 2D and 3D graphical applications. It can be considered the successor to the formidable Silicon Graphics IRIS GL-library which made so popular SGI workstations as the predilect platform for scientific, engineering and special effects development. SGI put into OpenGL a great deal of their expertise to make an easy-to-use, intuitive, portable and network aware API for the future. At the same time we can credit SGI for realizing the importance of open standards. Several hardware and software makers took part in OpenGL’s specification and stand behind it. Thanks to this, OpenGL applications can be ported quite easily to virtually any platform in the market, from PC windows95, to our glorious Linux system, high-end UNIX workstation
OpenGL is software code that enables programs like Cuboingo to interact with video hardware. The video hardware is what creates the 3D cube as well as everything else you see in the Cuboingo world. • Why does Cuboingo say “OpenGL hardware not found”? There are two possibilities – you do not have an OpenGL or Direct3D compliant video card installed in your computer, or you do not have the latest drivers for your video card. If you do not have an OpenGL or Direct3D compliant video card you can still play Cuboingo , but it probably won’t look as good. • What are “drivers”? A driver is software code that the video card manufacturer provides to implement the OpenGL and/or Direct3D software. In order for a program to use OpenGL/Direct3D to interact with your video card, the manufacturer has to provide a driver. • Where can I get a newer driver for my video card? Go to the web site for your video card manufacturer to obtain the latest drivers for your computer. Please note that installing new
