API... what.

I have started to learn Open GL.. but presently coding using a Win 32 Console mode.. That is in VC++... so using Open GL with plance C/C++.. but most of the code i see is integrated with the WIN API to render in an Windows created by VC++.. I have no Idea bout the Win API.. do you recomend i learn it before proceeding with it.. or since i am interested in Open Gl.. shall i continue exploring Open GL in Console Mode programin using normal C/C++ syntax..

What do you recomend and why...
Thanx In advance
Vasanth

If you don't / or won't understand the windows api...

You can use glut to create a window.... it's very simple....

There are a lot of information about glut at www.opengl.org

There is a link at www.gamedev.net to the RedBook (The OpenGL Programming Guide), which explains the usage of glut

You can download glut here: http://www.xmission.com/~nate/glut/glut-3.7.6-bin.zip

here is a simple example using glut:

Code:

#include <gl/glut.h>

void display(void)
{
	glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT);
	
	glColor3f(1.0,1.0,1.0);

	glBegin(GL_POLYGON);
		glVertex3f(0.25,0.25,0.0);
		glVertex3f(0.75,0.25,0.0);
		glVertex3f(0.75,0.75,0.0);
		glVertex3f(0.25,0.75,0.0);
	glEnd();


glFlush();
}

void init(void)
{
	glClearColor(0.0,0.0,0.0,0.0);

	glMatrixMode(GL_PROJECTION);
	glLoadIdentity();
	glOrtho(0.0,1.0,0.0,1.0,-1.0,1.0);
}

int main(int argc, char** argv)
{
	glutInit(&argc,argv);
	glutInitDisplayMode(GLUT_SINGLE | GLUT_RGB);
	glutInitWindowSize(300,300);
	glutInitWindowPosition(0,0);
	glutCreateWindow("My GLUT window for OpenGL");
	init();
	glutDisplayFunc(display);
	glutMainLoop();
return 0;
}

you dont need to go so far as to "learn" the win32 api, just learn what you need (ie. how to set up a window) and learn more as you need it (menu's, etc...) thats what i did (... am doing)

i can post/send you a copy of my window class, you just instantiate the class to get an openGL ready win32 api window

well using the glaux library i am able to create windows.

Code:

# include <gl\alaux.h>
# include <gl\gl.h>

int main(void)
{

auxInitDisplayMode(AUX_DOUBLE|AUX_RGBA);
auxInitPosition(100,100,300,300);
auxInitWindow("My Window");

//------------------------------------ etc etc
//------------------------------------all other aux function gl function callin etc etc


return 0;
}

But many people said that i should not use the aux library why is that.. what is wrong with the auxilary library and whats the advantage of using glut over aux to create windows etc etc....

ANd any way thanx for the advice.. not gona learn win API just to learn OpenGL..

I would suggest learning the basics of the Win API. I wouldn't worry to much about menus and junk, though, just stuff like get an idea of how it works and what the message loop is, etc

some of the things in the aux library are buggy, for example loading bitmaps. However it should be fine for what you have.

I went ahead and learned WinAPI, and i think its a good idea because i personally do not perfer glut.