Chapter 1. Getting Started with OpenGL
In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:
- Setting up a Windows-based development platform
- Setting up a Mac-based development platform
- Setting up a Linux-based development platform
- Installing the GLFW library in Windows
- Installing the GLFW library in Mac OS X and Linux
- Creating your first OpenGL application with GLFW
- Compiling and running your first OpenGL application in Windows
- Compiling and running your first OpenGL application in Mac OS X or Linux
Introduction
OpenGL is an ideal multiplatform, cross-language, and hardware-accelerated graphics rendering interface that is well suited to visualize large 2D and 3D datasets in many fields. In fact, OpenGL has become the industry standard to create stunning graphics, most notably in gaming applications and numerous professional tools for 3D modeling. As we collect more and more data in fields ranging from biomedical imaging to wearable computing (especially with the evolution of Big Data), a...