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OpenGL VS. DirectX

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Started by orcfan32 July 18, 2005 09:04 AM

8 comments, last by Oluseyi 18 years, 9 months ago

orcfan32

100

Author

July 18, 2005 09:04 AM

Which is better, I want to know their advantages and disadvantages. Also, from what I've seen, I think that I might stick to OpenGL, as I haven't found that many things about DirectX.

The best thing to do is just choose whatever you think you'd prefer, and go for it. -Promit

Anonymous

July 18, 2005 09:07 AM

here we go again...

Ali_B

223

July 18, 2005 09:12 AM

Go on with OpenGL... Whatever you learn is good...

I think OpenGL is a better place to learn the concepts cause its syntax is easier than that of Directx and its capabilities are great too..

programwizard

100

July 18, 2005 09:12 AM

That's because DirectX is owned by Microsoft, and OpenGL is open-source (or something like that). So the only way to use DX is if you are using Windows. The only one I've ever actually used is DX, so I can say that it is rather easy to work with (only a small number of essential function calls, you can get to everything else when your ready). I can't speak for OpenGL directly, but since it is open-source, you may have an easier time getting it to work with your compiler, but I've heard that you have to write a lot of your own functions with OpenGL.

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orcfan32

100

Author

July 18, 2005 09:16 AM

Then, for DX, do you have to write your own functions a lot?
Also, to you, is it easy to understand?

The best thing to do is just choose whatever you think you'd prefer, and go for it. -Promit

Toji

536

July 18, 2005 09:20 AM

Wow, this feels redundant...

I feel it's my duty here to point out that OpenGL is NOT open source! I honestly don't know why this myth is so popular, but it is. The "Open" in OpenGL reffers to the fact that it is an open standard, which many different companies can contribute to and which is avalible to anyone who cares to make an implementation of it (such as ATI and Nvidia).

Please please please stop spreading the misinformation that OpenGL is open source! It's not any more open source than DirectX.

// The user formerly known as Tojiro67445, formerly known as Toji [smile]

MichaelT

214

July 18, 2005 09:24 AM

If you know GL then stick with it unless you want to get into the gaming industry, then knowing DX does have value. Other than that, Gl VS DX threads are usually closed.

No no no no! :)

Promit

13,404

July 18, 2005 09:27 AM

Quote:Original post by orcfan32
Then, for DX, do you have to write your own functions a lot?
Also, to you, is it easy to understand?

OpenGL is probably easier to understand. However, I've found that you very quickly end up needing to write functions that Direct3D already provides. For example, OpenGL has very little in the way of math support, and it has no built in way to load mesh files. Direct3D's D3DX library does both of these things, along with a whole slew of other functionality that doesn't come with OpenGL.

There are really a lot of tradeoffs. Some people start with Direct3D first, crash, and then go to OpenGL and succeed. Some people start with Direct3D and have no problems at all. Some people start with OpenGL and are perfectly happy, and some people start with OpenGL and quickly move to Direct3D. The best thing to do is just choose whatever you think you'd prefer, and go for it.