Is OpenGL too old for computer graphics programming?

[girlzrule786]

I am new to the world of computer science. I learned C language last year in my university. I also have a basic knowledge of OOP concepts and C#

I want to learn Computer Graphics. I found this book named "Computer Graphics Using OpenGL by F.S. Hill" in the Library. The copyright year of the book is 1990. I was wondering, would the info in this book be too old for today? Also, is OpenGL an old software? Is it still used? What are other platforms for computer graphics apart from OpenGL?

 

[jedishrfu]

Yes, its still in use although it has gone through several iterations sine that book was published.

more on opengl may be found here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opengl

I would get a more recent book to learn how to use it effectively, for starters try:

http://openglbook.com/

 

[Adyssa]

It pretty much comes down to OpenGL (most platforms) and DirectX (Windows only). DirectX is very popular because Windows is a popular gaming platform, but don't be fooled, OpenGL is very capable and robust.

I think you could learn either one and transition to the other without too much fuss, although there is a steep learning curve to learn that one the first time, especially for 3d graphics.

There's only one real way to figure these things out and that's start making things. Might I suggest you have a go at something 2d first, and not a game, just draw and get your head around that. The game can come later. When it comes to 3d, you need a bit of maths. Not that much, the library handles most of the complicated transformations for you, but you best know what a frustum is, and your trig, some basic calculus and matrices.

Anyway, one step at a time, go draw something! There's thousands of tutorials around. The time to figure out what the market wants is after you've been playing for a while and have some perspective.

For what it's worth, my first foray towards graphics programming was with the SDL library and these tutorials. Once I had a few basics down, I took a class at uni and we used http://www.opengl.org/resources/libraries/glut/ which is a library for writing OpenGL programs

 

[Blackhawk4560]

Going off of what's already been said,

It depends a lot on what you want to use it for- directX tends to be a bit more polished, plus it comes with sound functions as well. It is only available on windows, however, as it is Microsoft. Also, used in X-box coding (direct X, X box, that's where it got its name)

OpenGL is simpler, and much more portable, It had been in a lull for the past few years but I think a come back is due!

 

[LudusRex]

As a scientist with a background in computer graphics programming, I can say that while OpenGL may be considered "old" in terms of its initial release in 1992, it is still widely used and relevant in the field of computer graphics programming. In fact, it is still the standard for many graphics applications and is regularly updated with new features and capabilities.

While the book you mentioned may have been published in 1990, the fundamentals and principles of computer graphics have not changed significantly since then. Therefore, the information in the book can still be valuable and applicable to current graphics programming.

That being said, it is important to also learn about other platforms and technologies in computer graphics, as the field is constantly evolving. Some other popular platforms for computer graphics include DirectX, Vulkan, and Unity. It is always beneficial to have a diverse knowledge of different tools and platforms in order to stay current and adapt to different projects and industries.

In summary, while OpenGL may be considered "old" in terms of its initial release, it is still widely used and relevant in the field of computer graphics programming. The book you found can still provide valuable information, but it is also important to continue learning and exploring other platforms and technologies in order to stay current in this constantly evolving field.