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Best Book to teach OpenGL 3.X

Started by TTT_Dutch May 6, 2011 at 11:02 PM 10 replies 8.6k views
Original Post
TTT_Dutch
TTT_Dutch
Hey guys, I am wondering what would be the best book to go from beginner to intermediate or advanced? I have seen The red book, the superbible, and Beginning OpenGL game programming. Which one should I read? Or should I read a different book?

Thanks ahead,
Brent
samoth
samoth
Can't tell about the other two, but the Red Book is definitively not something you want to read for OpenGL 3.x (even though the title says so, it is deceptive). It does mention 3.x functionality, but most of the book is about deprecated functionality, and it is not easy to differentiate between "old" and "new". All in all, I found this book very disappointing.

The internet has a vast collection of freely available resources, including the OpenGL specification (which I personally find very good from a didactic point of view), and for example this and that.
TTT_Dutch
TTT_Dutch

Can't tell about the other two, but the Red Book is definitively not something you want to read for OpenGL 3.x (even though the title says so, it is deceptive). It does mention 3.x functionality, but most of the book is about deprecated functionality, and it is not easy to differentiate between "old" and "new". All in all, I found this book very disappointing.

The internet has a vast collection of freely available resources, including the OpenGL specification (which I personally find very good from a didactic point of view), and for example this and that.


Thankyou for those resources! Just from the looks of them they appear to be exactly what I am looking for. I am excited to read them!
TTT_Dutch
TTT_Dutch

Can't tell about the other two, but the Red Book is definitively not something you want to read for OpenGL 3.x (even though the title says so, it is deceptive). It does mention 3.x functionality, but most of the book is about deprecated functionality, and it is not easy to differentiate between "old" and "new". All in all, I found this book very disappointing.

The internet has a vast collection of freely available resources, including the OpenGL specification (which I personally find very good from a didactic point of view), and for example this and that.


Actually dude as I was reading those I really couldn't pull much usefull stuff that applies to what I am looking for right now. So, is there any books that talk about VBO's, VAO's, and how to add color or texture to them? I know the first link had a few examples of that but its was really hard to follow.
zerothrillz
zerothrillz
http://www.gamedev.n...nd-edition-r755

I read this cover to cover and came out knowing so much more.

And when you've finished that and feel rusty on the math still, or want a good reference for things like bump-mapping, better lighting model explanation and shadows, this book is the way to go:

http://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Programming-Computer-Graphics-Second/dp/1584502770/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304782269&sr=8-3
TTT_Dutch
TTT_Dutch

http://www.gamedev.n...nd-edition-r755

I read this cover to cover and came out knowing so much more.

And when you've finished that and feel rusty on the math still, or want a good reference for things like bump-mapping, better lighting model explanation and shadows, this book is the way to go:

http://www.amazon.co...04782269&sr=8-3


Ok did you come out knowing much more about opengl 3.3 or just opengl in general? Because I was reading the VBO section and I didn't see anything about how to color objects with vbos. I want no fixed pipeline stuff. Thanks anyway though.
TTT_Dutch
TTT_Dutch

OpenGL SuperBible is a good book, I would also recommend these tutorials : http://nopper.tv/opengl.html


Ok that site's download doesn't seem to work on linux and I am not sure where the tutorial actually is. But thanks for the book recommendation!

BTW, I guess I am looking for a tutorial on how to draw 3D shapes with a VBO, then how to add color to them, then how to texture them. Are there any of those out there?
TTT_Dutch
TTT_Dutch
Ok guys I found something. Here is a GL 4 online book. GL 4 is awfully close to GL 3.3 correct? Anyway here it is: http://openglbook.com/
McNopper
McNopper

[quote name='siavash' timestamp='1304783301' post='4807713']
OpenGL SuperBible is a good book, I would also recommend these tutorials : http://nopper.tv/opengl.html


Ok that site's download doesn't seem to work on linux and I am not sure where the tutorial actually is. But thanks for the book recommendation!

BTW, I guess I am looking for a tutorial on how to draw 3D shapes with a VBO, then how to add color to them, then how to texture them. Are there any of those out there?
[/quote]

Hmm, just tried the link ... works for me ... which error do you get?

Regards Norbert
TTT_Dutch
TTT_Dutch

[quote name='TTT_Dutch' timestamp='1304806215' post='4807823']
[quote name='siavash' timestamp='1304783301' post='4807713']
OpenGL SuperBible is a good book, I would also recommend these tutorials : http://nopper.tv/opengl.html


Ok that site's download doesn't seem to work on linux and I am not sure where the tutorial actually is. But thanks for the book recommendation!

BTW, I guess I am looking for a tutorial on how to draw 3D shapes with a VBO, then how to add color to them, then how to texture them. Are there any of those out there?
[/quote]

Hmm, just tried the link ... works for me ... which error do you get?

Regards Norbert
[/quote]

Ok well now I am not looking so much for examples as much as tutorials, so if there is someone who could make tutorials by explaining that examples code that would be great. Or is their something similar that uses c++ and not c.
McNopper
McNopper

[quote name='McNopper' timestamp='1305584471' post='4811665']
[quote name='TTT_Dutch' timestamp='1304806215' post='4807823']
[quote name='siavash' timestamp='1304783301' post='4807713']
OpenGL SuperBible is a good book, I would also recommend these tutorials : http://nopper.tv/opengl.html


Ok that site's download doesn't seem to work on linux and I am not sure where the tutorial actually is. But thanks for the book recommendation!

BTW, I guess I am looking for a tutorial on how to draw 3D shapes with a VBO, then how to add color to them, then how to texture them. Are there any of those out there?
[/quote]

Hmm, just tried the link ... works for me ... which error do you get?

Regards Norbert
[/quote]

Ok well now I am not looking so much for examples as much as tutorials, so if there is someone who could make tutorials by explaining that examples code that would be great. Or is their something similar that uses c++ and not c.
[/quote]

Hmmm, if I do find more time - I will do some tutorials on the above examples.

Regards Norbert
TTT_Dutch
TTT_Dutch

[quote name='TTT_Dutch' timestamp='1305603700' post='4811760']
[quote name='McNopper' timestamp='1305584471' post='4811665']
[quote name='TTT_Dutch' timestamp='1304806215' post='4807823']
[quote name='siavash' timestamp='1304783301' post='4807713']
OpenGL SuperBible is a good book, I would also recommend these tutorials : http://nopper.tv/opengl.html


Ok that site's download doesn't seem to work on linux and I am not sure where the tutorial actually is. But thanks for the book recommendation!

BTW, I guess I am looking for a tutorial on how to draw 3D shapes with a VBO, then how to add color to them, then how to texture them. Are there any of those out there?
[/quote]

Hmm, just tried the link ... works for me ... which error do you get?

Regards Norbert
[/quote]

Ok well now I am not looking so much for examples as much as tutorials, so if there is someone who could make tutorials by explaining that examples code that would be great. Or is their something similar that uses c++ and not c.
[/quote]

Hmmm, if I do find more time - I will do some tutorials on the above examples.

Regards Norbert
[/quote]

Well that would be great! Thankyou!

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