Reputation: 189
What are some good resources for learning OpenGL 4.1 aimed at someone relatively new to graphics programming?
I'm aware that this was asked before, but I would think that ~9 months would give us more.
I know that OpenGL Programming Guide: The Official Guide to Learning OpenGL, Versions 4.1 (8th Edition) is coming out apparently in October, but is there anything else? It seems like there's been some major changes, and I'd hate to feel like my time studying until this book release was wasted. Sites can work too, provided they are focusing on 4.1.
Thank you.
Upvotes: 3
Views: 2488
Reputation: 405
If you want to learn graphics programming properly then OGL 4.1 is the place to start these days, but if as a beginner you want to hack stuff out then i'd advise you take an easier route (DirectX). Your programming skills have to up there and especially your maths skills aswell (linear algebra). Get a copy of the Spec and the Red/Orange and Blue books, a good book on mathematics for 3d graphics and prepare for alot of pain, pure 4.1 from scratch is hard.
Don't worry about not getting the latest edition of the red book, 3.3->4.1 didn't change a huge amount in terms of new features or paradigm, mainly just removing deprecated functionality.
Mesh loaders can be fulfilled by OpenCTM, GXBase is also quite good.
Don't bother learning OGL prior to 4.1, it's based on a deprecated paradigm and so you will waste time learning stuff that is officially out of date. The super bible has a good amount of code that will help you along the way.
Upvotes: 2