OpenGL Programming for the X Window System [Paperback]

Mark J. Kilgard (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0201483599 | ISBN-13: 978-0201483598 | Publication Date: August 15, 1996 | Edition: 1

OpenGL is the fastest and most widely available software standard for producing high-quality color images of 3D scenes. This practical guide shows X programmers how to construct working 3D applications using OpenGL and how to tightly integrate OpenGL applications with the X Window System. Written by a Silicon Graphics X Window System and OpenGL expert, OpenGL Programming for the X Window System uses the OpenGL Utility Toolkit (GLUT) to show how OpenGL programs can be constructed quickly and explores OpenGL features using examples written with GLUT. This book also: *explains the GLX model for integrating OpenGL and Xlib *shows how to use OpenGL with Motif and other widget sets *discusses the latest OpenGL standards: OpenGL 1.1, GLX 1.2, and GLU 1.2 *covers advanced topics such as alternative input devices and overlays *includes valuable information for ensuring OpenGL portability and interoperability *provides pointers for performance tuning Each chapter contains source code demonstrating the techniques described. Source code for all the examples provided, and for the GLUT library itself, are available for downloading via the Internet. Intended for C programmers familiar with the Xlib and/or Motif programming interfaces. No previous OpenGL knowledge is required. 0201483599B04062001

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

OpenGL is the fastest and most widely available software standard for producing high-quality color images of 3D scenes. This practical guide shows X programmers how to construct working 3D applications using OpenGL and how to tightly integrate OpenGL applications with the X Window System.

Written by a Silicon Graphics X Window System and OpenGL expert, OpenGL Programming for the X Window System uses the OpenGL Utility Toolkit (GLUT) to show how OpenGL programs can be constructed quickly and explores OpenGL features using examples written with GLUT. This book also:

• explains the GLX model for integrating OpenGL and Xlib

• shows how to use OpenGL with Motif and other widget sets

• discusses the latest OpenGL standards: OpenGL 1.1, GLX 1.2, and GLU 1.2

• covers advanced topics such as alternative input devices and overlays

• includes valuable information for ensuring OpenGL portability and interoperability

• provides pointers for performance tuning

Each chapter contains source code demonstrating the techniques described. Source code for all the examples provided, and for the GLUT library itself, are available for downloading via the Internet.

Intended for C programmers familiar with the Xlib and/or Motif programming interfaces. No previous OpenGL knowledge is required.

0201483599B04062001

About the Author

Mark Kilgard is a member of the Technical Staff at Silicon Graphics, Inc. He is a contributor to The X Journal and speaks regularly at the X Technical Conference and SIGGRAPH. Mark is also the creator of the OpenGL Utility Toolkit (GLUT).

0201483599AB01032003

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 1 edition (August 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201483599
• ISBN-13: 978-0201483598
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #840,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Graphics & Multimedia > OpenGL

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I enjoyed the book., September 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: OpenGL Programming for the X Window System (Paperback)

I think that it was a good book. This was my first OpenGL book, and I'm now purchasing more. It's good to see that there are some X Window System specific books out there. The book explains in detail GLUT, but not some other complex areas of OpenGL (Why I'm buying more OpenGL books...). I'd recommend the book for beginners of OpenGL that are frusterated with Windows-specific texts.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overall a very good supplement to the Red Book, February 11, 2000

By 

Richard Hatch (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: OpenGL Programming for the X Window System (Paperback)

Mark has a very good way of describing how things work. I have been using OpenGL for while but not using XWindows extensions that much. This book helped a lot and I used it to make sense of some the convoluted text in other books for the wgl functions.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitive for 1996, June 29, 2000

By 

KY Bike Rider (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: OpenGL Programming for the X Window System (Paperback)

Back when I was learning GL, this book was the best. It covered the basics at a good level of detail. Almost as if Mark could read our product requirements, it also has appendecies on off-topic-to-GL-but-not-to-us topics, such as the X input extension and graphics overlays.

I believe GLX has gone through a few revisions since this book last had a new edition. Therefore some of its data may end up referencing deprecated old glx functions instead of the slick new method. In particular I'm thinking I saw something about visual selection changing. That's the only reason I'm holding back on star number 5.