OpenGL Lessons

OpenGL  (  Open Graphics Library  )  is generally considered an API that provides a large set of functions that we can use to manipulate graphics and images. More specifically, OpenGL is a specification developed and maintained by the Khronos Group.

Whether you’re learning OpenGL for educational or career purposes or simply looking for a new hobby, these free graphics programming lessons will teach you the basics and all the necessary details of working with OpenGL. The goal of this tutorial is to show you everything there is to know about modern OpenGL in an easy-to-understand way with visual examples, as well as provide a background for your subsequent research/digging deeper into the topic.

These lessons are aimed at both those new to graphics programming and more experienced programmers who would like to learn and systematize their knowledge. This OpenGL tutorial also discusses practical concepts that, with a little extra creativity, can turn your ideas into real 3D applications. If all this hasn’t scared you off yet, I invite you to join me on this journey.

What will you learn?

Learning (and using) OpenGL requires a deep knowledge of graphics programming and an understanding of how OpenGL works “under the hood” to truly get the most out of your upcoming experience. Therefore, we’ll begin by discussing the basic graphics aspects, clarifying how OpenGL actually works to draw pixels on your screen, and how we can use this knowledge to create some unusual effects.

Beyond the basics, we’ll also discuss a variety of useful techniques you can use for your own applications, such as moving scenes, creating beautiful lighting, loading custom objects from modeling programs, using post-processing, and much more. We’ll also create a short game with you, applying the OpenGL knowledge you’ve just learned, so you can truly get a feel for what it’s like to be a graphics developer.

Since OpenGL is a graphics API and not a platform itself, you’ll need a programming language to work with it. In our case, that’s C++, so you’ll need some knowledge of C++. You don’t need to be a C++ expert, but you should be able to write something more than a simple “Hello, world!” program. For additional knowledge, the C++ tutorials on 365education.org are a great place to start, as each topic is covered in a separate lesson, and you can always refer to them for detailed explanations.

These lessons will also involve mathematics (linear algebra and geometry, along with trigonometry), which I will also try to explain as needed. However, I am not a professional mathematician, so while my explanations may be clear, they will likely be incomplete. Therefore, where necessary, I will point to good resources that explain the material in more detail. Don’t be intimidated by the math; it’s not that scary. Most of the functionality we’ll be working with won’t require you to understand all the ins and outs of mathematics, as long as you know how to use it.

Lesson structure

Our learning path is divided into sequential chapters. Each chapter contains lessons in which we’ll explore various concepts in detail. Because the lessons are sequential, it’s best to start from the beginning, as each subsequent lesson builds on the concepts covered in the previous one.

Glossary of OpenGL Terms

Chapter 0. Getting Started with OpenGL

Chapter 1. Lighting in OpenGL

Chapter 2. Loading Models into OpenGL

Chapter 3. Advanced OpenGL

Chapter 4. Advanced Lighting in OpenGL

Chapter No. 5. PBR to OpenGL

Additional lessons

Creating the Breakout Game in C++/OpenGL

The finale