iPhone 3D Programming: Developing Graphical Applications with OpenGL ES [Paperback]

Philip Rideout (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 21, 2010

What does it take to build an iPhone app with stunning 3D graphics? This book will show you how to apply OpenGL graphics programming techniques to any device running the iPhone OS -- including the iPad and iPod Touch -- with no iPhone development or 3D graphics experience required. iPhone 3D Programming provides clear step-by-step instructions, as well as lots of practical advice, for using the iPhone SDK and OpenGL.

You'll build several graphics programs -- progressing from simple to more complex examples -- that focus on lighting, textures, blending, augmented reality, optimization for performance and speed, and much more. All you need to get started is a solid understanding of C++ and a great idea for an app.

• Learn fundamental graphics concepts, including transformation matrices, quaternions, and more
• Get set up for iPhone development with the Xcode environment
• Become familiar with versions 1.1 and 2.0 of the OpenGL ES API, and learn to use vertex buffer objects, lighting, texturing, and shaders
• Use the iPhone's touch screen, compass, and accelerometer to build interactivity into graphics applications
• Build iPhone graphics applications such as a 3D wireframe viewer, a simple augmented reality application, a spring system simulation, and more

This book received valuable community input through O'Reilly's Open Feedback Publishing System (OFPS). Learn more at http://labs.oreilly.com/ofps.html.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Philip Rideout has been a fanatic of real-time graphics programming for over a decade. He has held positions at several pioneering graphics companies, including Intergraph, 3Dlabs, and NVIDIA. Philip currently works at Medical Simulation Corporation in Denver, where he develops new ways to visualize the inside of the human body.

Product Details

• Paperback: 440 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (May 21, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596804822
• ISBN-13: 978-0596804824
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 7 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Graphics & Multimedia > OpenGL
  • #41 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Development & Programming > iOS & App Development
  • #57 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Home Computing & How-to > Mac Computers & Hardware

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, projects work on iPad! May 24, 2010

By SuperFreq

Format:Paperback

This book has the best description on how to get a project going on the iPhone that I have read so far. No nonsense straight and to the point to get you started and then gets you up to speed quickly with OpenGL ES. I wish I had this when I started making iPhone apps.

I like how the author's design takes advantage of portability using a C++ engine. This allows for a project to be ported to other platforms fairly easily. The example projects support all current forms of the iPhone (OpenGL 1.1 and 2.0) and I also have the demo projects working quite easily on the iPad by following the directions stated but with an iPad project instead of an iPhone project.

If you are looking to create a game or interactive application on the iPhone or the iPad, this is the book you want.

25 of 30 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Throws out the basics April 17, 2011

By E. M. Maland

Format:Paperback

The title 'iPhone 3D Programming' is misleading. This book is focused on cross-platform development in C++, which is cool but makes the title of the book incidental and mostly a marketing gimmick. Yes, you're using Xcode and running your apps on iOS devices, but the real goal is cross-platform development using OpenGL ES via a set of C++ classes.

It feels like the author basically had this work lying around and ported it to the iPhone, then wrote chapters to share with us.

Nowhere are the core frameworks reused or integrated with OpenGL in interesting or creative ways, and a lot of useful frameworks are tossed to the wayside in favor of wrapper C++ classes. It shows the author's inexperience with the platform.

The actual OpenGL meat is tasty here, but the iPhone integration is pointless and very novice.

28 of 35 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent intro to OpenGL, has little to do with iPhone, however! November 4, 2010

By Laurent Daudelin

Format:Paperback

I bought the book thinking it would help me jump start in OpenGL. It certainly does but not in the way I was expecting. Each new example in the book starts by removing all the generated resources that Xcode creates for you when you choose an OpenGL ES project! As a developer with over 20 years of Objective-C behind my belt, this is highly counter-intuitive. I want to write OpenGL apps on the iPhone, not write a portable renderer in C++. I'm not planning to port any app to any other platform anytime soon. So, in addition of learning OpenGL, I now have to become closely familiar with C++, which I don't have any desire to do. One step at a time, please!

So, if you're planning to write an OpenGL app that you want to port to multiple platforms, already know C++ quite a bit, and optionally want to have your app working on the iPhone, that book is for you. Otherwise, do like me and look somewhere else.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for ANY iOS development October 11, 2011

By David B. Adcock

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is a FANTASTIC launching point for any IOS development whether you are using 3D or not.

The book assumes no (zero, zip, zilch) knowledge about objective C and explains everything clearly and concisely [I just love concise]. If you already know Objective C, you can skim, if you no nothing or have forgotten something (like I am constantly doing) the book's approach is great. Experts might complain that it spends time on basics, but I never see that as a valid complaint. I'm an expert and I can tell you that the more you review the basics, the better you'll become.

The book does cover BOTH OpenGLES 1.1 and 2.0, which they should advertise, because... well... that's kind of hugely important. I almost didn't buy this book because I assumed it only covered 1.1 . (hint-hint Amazon)

Another great thing about this book is that the author uses a design methodology where you use C++ heavily to allow for modularity and portability. This also means you get to program a bit in a sane programming language. (Ok that was a little crack at objective C, but lets face it, there is a huge reader base that isn't so crazy about Objective C [me among them])

The approach of the book is basically a walkthrough to develop a working application. It carefully guides you through the innumerable gotchas, booby-traps and land-mines that Apple lays before you. Most importantly, the cognitive effort required to understand the material is minimal because the book takes an applied as opposed to pedantic approach. I'm not sure about your brain cells, but my brain cells aren't so keen about having to absorb all the finer points of iOS allocation/retention protocols just to accomplish the simplest task. Fortunately this book just gets right to the point....

Summary: I can't say enough good things about this book. Read more ›

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice book June 8, 2010

By Junlin Xu

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is the first book I bought on iPhone/iPad 3D graphics programming. The author did excellent job on presenting modern OpenGL ES programming in a clear way. The book contains lots of examples using both OpenGL ES 1.1 and 2.0 APIs. The first six chapters are very detailed in explaining the code. The last three chapters are faster paced but still contain good explanation on important portions of the code. I like the presentation of code that lists application side, shader side and how they are tied together. The author also explains very well how you would want to organize your code through interfaces. I run most of the examples on the iPhone emulator and they all worked! The reader should have a good understanding of C++ programming language in order to get most out of this book. Also, this is not a general iPhone programming book but rather a 3D programming book on iPhone/iPad.

The book could have broken some of the later chapters into multiple chapters, so a reader will not feel too overwhelmed by sheer amount of material.

"A good graphics programmer thinks like a politician and uses lies to her advantage." - A quote from the book.