OpenGL is a graphics library originally associated with Silicon Graphics workstations, but now an open standard that also runs on PC's.
It is possible to do a wide range of sophisticated 2D and 3D graphics presentations. OpenGL v1.1 software runtime is included as part of the operating system for WinXP, Windows 2000, Windows 98, Windows 95 (OSR2) and Windows NT. The OpenGL v1.1 libraries are also available as a self-extracting archive file from the Microsoft Site via HTTP or FTP.
OpenGL is most commonly used with C or C++ programs, but can also be called by a FORTRAN program if the necessary intermediate "FORTRAN bindings" (an interface package) have been installed.
OpenGL only does graphics rendering, and has no concept of windowing systems, input devices, printing to the screen and so on. These extra functions must be provided by an auxilliary package. One common package as known as GLUT, for the Graphics Language Utility Toolbox.
OpenGL ships with OS9 and OSX for the Macintosh. You can obtain the latest software version on the Apple OpenGL web site.
Note that the source code and compilation script have been adapted for use on a Macintosh running OS X.
For that reason, the include file references have been changed from:
# include <GL/gl.h>
# include <GL/glu.h>
# include <GL/glut.h>
# include <OpenGL/gl.h>
# include <OpenGL/glu.h>
# include <GLUT/glut.h>
The compilation statement, which might ordinarily be
g++ myprog.C -lGL -lGLU -lglut
g++ myprog.C -framework OpenGL -framework GLUT
FLOOD_OPEN_GL is a C program which allows a user to select a region and flood it with color, using OpenGL, by Art Wetzel.
LIFE_OPEN_GL is a C program which simulates a version of John Conway's "Game of Life", displaying the results using OpenGL.
MESA3D is an emulation of the OpenGL library.
OPEN_GL examples are also available in a C++ version.
OBJ2OPENGL is a PERL script which converts OBJ files of 3D data into C include files, which can then be used in an OpenGL program to display the object.
PLTMG_SINGLE is a FORTRAN77 finite element program that can use the OpenGL library for certain kinds of graphics output.
POINTS_DISPLAY_OPEN_GL is a C++ program which reads a file containing 2D point coordinates, and displays an image of those points using OpenGL.
PPM is a data directory describing the ASCII Portable Pixelmap format, which is a possible means of storing the graphics information displayed by OpenGL. One of the example programs shows how this can be done.
TET_MESH_DISPLAY_OPEN_GL is an executable C++ program which reads a pair of files defining a tetrahedral mesh and displays an image using OpenGL.
TRIANGULATION_DISPLAY_OPEN_GL is an executable C++ program which reads a pair of files defining a triangulation and displays an image using OpenGL.
GASKET_POINTS displays the Sierpinksi gasket by showing 5000 points.
You can go up one level to the C source codes.