Thread: Which graphic library do you prefer?

  1. #1
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    Which graphic library do you prefer?

    SDL or Allegro?
    My compiler is Dev-C++4
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  2. #2
    Fingerstyle Guitarist taylorguitarman's Avatar
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    SDL

  3. #3
    Used Registerer jdinger's Avatar
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    I know it's not one of the choices but I prefer DirectX. It's easy
    and powerful.

  4. #4
    Fingerstyle Guitarist taylorguitarman's Avatar
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    Maybe version 8.* but 7 and earlier were a pain to use IMHO.
    I've become somewhat of an SDL convert lately due to its cross platform abilities and my switching to using OpenGL. I think it has great potential.
    DirectX is much more powerful though (and complete) as an API.
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  5. #5
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    OpenGL all the way.

    i cant make a choice since i wuld be brutally slaughtered either way.

    >Maybe version 8.* but 7 and earlier were a pain to use IMHO.

    i hear that!

    >DirectX is much more powerful though (and complete) as an API.

    Whateva!
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    Registered User xds4lx's Avatar
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    OpenGL is the ..........! If microcrap wasnt on the ARB then it would be way past DirectX but microcrap has their ways of holding back anything they didnt develop.
    "only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and im not sure about the former." - albert einstein

  7. #7
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    well said.

    with OpenGL 2.0, MS has been thoroughly screwed right back! and OpenGL is still the bomb!
    Last edited by no-one; 04-28-2002 at 12:40 AM.
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  8. #8
    Fingerstyle Guitarist taylorguitarman's Avatar
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    Is there an expected date for the OpenGL 2.0 release yet? I've haven't been keeping track. I'm looking forward to it.
    I think DirectGraphics and OpenGL are both great graphics packages but OpenGL is only a graphics API whereas DirectX is a full multimedia API. Thus it's not always fair to compare the two (unless we just talk graphics APIs). I will say that OpenGL beats all the DirectX graphics APIs until 8.* hands down, but I think MS has done a good job with their latest effort. I'll be curious to see what improvements they make in version 9 (which should be coming out pretty soon I think).

  9. #9
    Registered User xds4lx's Avatar
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    There is no expected release for GL 2.0, currently Nvidia is trying to push 1.4 out to get some more things standardized. There was a discusion of this GL 2.0 going on at www.gamedev.net or go to www.opengl.org and check out their forums which are a great help along with NeHe's tutorials at http://nehe.gamedev.net
    "only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and im not sure about the former." - albert einstein

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    i've had experience with all of them

    i really think that if you are more interested in writing games than learning complex APIs you should go with SDL, it is by far the simplest to learn.. and the community is very strong (an important thing for graphics libraries) Allegro was a good choice but lately it has been going downhill and it's support of newer the OSs out there (OSX, XP, etc) is poor) DirectX is good because true the industry does use it, but due to the fact that most of us are years away from getting into the industy (if we ever do) means that learning DX7/8 is pointless, the DX we'll need to know will be so radically different (as with any API), if you are interested in making games that are about the game and not just graphics SDL is the easiest... and then you can add OpenGL easier when you get around to learning more 3d


    edit: sexperience?

  11. #11
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    I am learning OpenGL now, its great! and not hard either.

  12. #12
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    I like allegro

  13. #13
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    can someone e-mail me(if you know some SDL or trying to learn it)
    [email protected]
    Compiler: MingW(IDE: Bloodshed Dev-C++ 4.01)
    Web Site: Zoo Crew
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    E-mail: [email protected]

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  14. #14
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    ive tried learning all of the APIs liste above except directx. opengl was kind of hard, but again, i didnt have as much experience when i tried to learn it. allegro is easy, but it got me bored to fast. sdl is what i use now, and i will probably use it until i am done with the game i am working on then attempt opengl once again. the only problem with sdl that i see now is that it doesnt support anything like font, gui, etc (neither does opengl, iirc, bt opengl has things that do this). my resolution is that opengl is somewhat difficult, allegro is straightforward but monotonous, and sdl is easy, but doesnt have a few functinons that are vital.

  15. #15
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    SDL_ttf

    use SDL_ttf (from the libsdl.org site, it makes using fonts real easy, talk to me if you need some help with it, the docs are sparse but i wrote some for myself that i'd be glad to share)

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