Thread: Glut or Win32?

  1. #1
    #junkie
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    Glut or Win32?

    Ok, i'm just curious and am having a hard time deciding what to do.

    I want to stick with an API and use it for my projects, i'd prefer win32 because from my experience in Glut, win32 has far more windowing features.

    Though Glut is multi platform (which i would like to dabble in further down the line).

    So i spose the question lies in OpenGL's capabilities to recreate Win32 Style windowing? Such as drop down lists, input boxes, ect. Are there any tutorials on the like? Anything to help me to use OpenGL for windowing?

    Thanks to any replies!
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  2. #2
    VA National Guard The Brain's Avatar
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    I think being able to program using a multi-platform library would be the most beneficial choice. You would be able to walk into software design shop for example and begin developing GUI applications without any regard to what machines they are using.
    • "Problem Solving C++, The Object of Programming" -Walter Savitch
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    • "Visual C++ MFC Programming by Example" -John E. Swanke
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  3. #3
    #junkie
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    ya, i would love that. But my issue is how can i program a win32 like application with opengl? Dropdown boxes, all that junk.
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  4. #4
    VA National Guard The Brain's Avatar
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    I think the widgets library has a bunch of cool stuff like menus and scrollbars and stuff.
    • "Problem Solving C++, The Object of Programming" -Walter Savitch
    • "Data Structures and Other Objects using C++" -Walter Savitch
    • "Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers" -Kip Irvine
    • "Programming Windows, 5th edition" -Charles Petzold
    • "Visual C++ MFC Programming by Example" -John E. Swanke
    • "Network Programming Windows" -Jones/Ohlund
    • "Sams Teach Yourself Game Programming in 24 Hours" -Michael Morrison
    • "Mathmatics for 3D Game Programming & Computer Graphics" -Eric Lengyel

  5. #5
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Zeusbwr
    ya, i would love that. But my issue is how can i program a win32 like application with opengl? Dropdown boxes, all that junk.
    You could use GLUI, though its less likely other people will have that lib on their computers. Its not nearly as common as GLUT. If your really concerned about UI programming (and not multi-platform graphics) than use win32.

    A little GLUI info,
    http://www.cs.unc.edu/~rademach/glui/

  6. #6
    #junkie
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    well i mean what do people do who want multi platform ability and nice ui abilities? I mean do they just go with a Graphics Application, find a way to pickup messages (Glut, somethin), then just program their own UI?
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  7. #7
    #junkie
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    another quick reply, is it possible to make applications that run under OpenGL and use things such as GLUT and GLUI to run from a local folder?

    ie if my program needs GLUT and GLUI to be installed on the running computer,
    can i somehow include GLUT and GLUI in the same directory as the exe to make it nice and neat?

    in otherwords is there a way around using GLUT and GLUI without learning install programming so i can check if they have it, then if not install it for them to the proper directories. Because at the moment id prefer to stay away from installing things. I'm still in the drag and drop programming phase. ie anyone can just download my exe and run it. No Installation required.
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  8. #8
    Hardware Engineer
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    Unhappy Most programs aren't multi platform.

    Quote Originally Posted by Zeusbwr
    what do people do who want multi platform ability and nice ui abilities?
    I don't know, but when you go to the computer/software store, what do you find?

    - Mostly Windows-only programs.
    - Some Mac-only programs.
    - A few that are both Mac & Windows (maybe they are different versions and/or different release dates).
    - Maybe one or two Linux-only programs.

    If it was easy, almost everything would be mulit-platform... and Microsoft (and Intel) wouldn't rule the world!

  9. #9
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    >>can i somehow include GLUT and GLUI in the same directory as the exe to make it nice and neat?

    yes, you can distribute the GLUT and GLUI lib's with your app and link to them in the programs directory. But it makes the download that much bigger. And the actual libs are going to be different for each platform.

  10. #10
    #junkie
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    Quote Originally Posted by DougDbug
    I don't know, but when you go to the computer/software store, what do you find?

    - Mostly Windows-only programs.
    - Some Mac-only programs.
    - A few that are both Mac & Windows (maybe they are different versions and/or different release dates).
    - Maybe one or two Linux-only programs.

    If it was easy, almost everything would be mulit-platform... and Microsoft (and Intel) wouldn't rule the world!
    Ah.. very true, but i think the microsoft only platform thing isnt based on ease, but more of low profit return in other systems.


    Quote Originally Posted by Perspective
    >>can i somehow include GLUT and GLUI in the same directory as the exe to make it nice and neat?

    yes, you can distribute the GLUT and GLUI lib's with your app and link to them in the programs directory. But it makes the download that much bigger. And the actual libs are going to be different for each platform.
    But isnt the code slightly different for every system? I mean im by far no expert.. hell i know nothing of multi platform coding. But i would assume there would be minor changes to handle different OS quirks. I mean i couldent just keep the same exact code and link different libraries could i? So if i edited it slightly, i could still release different lib's for each platform. (and if im wrong on any part please correct me lol )



    Anyway DougBDoug has a point in that i may just use Win32, it would be a great learning expereince no matter what the outcome, and until i get a computer running on linux (got many toy computers, though none up atm (building comp room)) i may as well not worry about multi platform...

    Because coding only Windows and hoping i'm coding correctly for the multiplatform aspect would be kinda stupid right? I wouldent know if i'm doing things correctly for linux/whatever since i'd have no way to test it.


    Thanks for all your replies!

    (That and the whole libraries built by people still kinda scares me, didnt Gluax die because its founders decided to quit?(or went bankrupt for all i know))
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  11. #11
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    >>But isnt the code slightly different for every system?

    not really. The program code is the same. The only difference i know of is the you have to add #include <windows.h> to the windows port. This can easily be done with one source file and some preprocessor directives.

  12. #12
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    I took a graphics class, and we used GLUT. I never got the idea that GLUT was the way you would develop any commercial app in the "real world." It's just a simple framework that allows you to get right into OpenGL without having to delve into platform specific details. We never got past building menus, and I'm really not sure if GLUT supports much else in terms of widgets.
    The crows maintain that a single crow could destroy the heavens. Doubtless this is so. But it proves nothing against the heavens, for the heavens signify simply: the impossibility of crows.

  13. #13
    Crazy Fool Perspective's Avatar
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    GLUT doesnt support any widgets beyond windows and right click menus. Also, your correct in saying its not intended for commercial use. More for hobbyist use.

  14. #14
    Cat without Hat CornedBee's Avatar
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    What about wxWindows? Qt? GTK? (OK, maybe not GTK, as it's GPL'ed. And Qt is commercial for Windows and non-free apps. But wxWindows?)
    All the buzzt!
    CornedBee

    "There is not now, nor has there ever been, nor will there ever be, any programming language in which it is the least bit difficult to write bad code."
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  15. #15
    #junkie
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    no idea
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