What is it?

ModusPonens · Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 12:43 pm Post subject: What is it?

I know it's graphics related just because I've seen it mentioned on 3D games, but what exactly is it and how is it different than DirectX?

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theraje · Cap'n Arr! Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 262

It's different from DirectX in that it's open source, and works on multiple platforms other than Windows. It's also easier to use, from what I hear.

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WannaBe · Wiggles Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 714 Location: CA

www.opengl.com

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Eric · Posted: Sat Apr 10, 2004 1:55 pm Post subject: Re: What is it?

Supposed to be a LOT faster than DX as well. But I have never used it (or DX) so I can't speak from experience...

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Cerulean · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 6:02 pm Post subject: Re: What is it?

Its faster as it relies on hardware acceleration (a graphics hard with the opengl drivers). Very good for Linux programmers. Its close contender in the multi-platform games programming market is SDL.

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Infiniti2000@ · Grasshopper Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 1

Direct X also uses hardware acceleration. I doubt you will ever see a fair performance comparison of the two because DX only works on Windows and OpenGL is not 'supported' by Microsoft. The catch about OpenGL is that you have to find good drivers since it is not directly supported by the OS manufacturer. Btw, the more direct link is www.opengl.org.

Machaira@ · Grasshopper Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 3

I believe it's also a little behind technology wise. It doesn't support the latest pixel shaders if I'm not mistaken. That's the one problem with open source. MS has tons of money and people to throw into DirectX.

The other thing is that DirectX is more than just the graphics part. It also includes sound, input, networking portions whereas all OpenGL does is graphics. I believe there's a sound library similar to OpenGL (OpenAL?)

DirectX is pretty much the industry standard and will more than likely remain that way.

Eric · Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 1:09 pm Post subject: Re: What is it?

Quote:

DirectX is pretty much the industry standard and will more than likely remain that way.

For Windows at least...

The Wine port of DirectX (called WineX I think) is decent... but still not perfect.

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WannaBe · Wiggles Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 714 Location: CA

XNA : ?The New DirectX?

www.microsoft.com/xna/

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Cerulean · Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: What is it?

There is a commercial version of wine which concentrates on DirectX and windows gaming. I heard its pretty good too.

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intrest86 · Posted: Sat May 01, 2004 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: What is it?

For one, any claims of eithe rpackage being much quicker usually result from someone who uses one incorrrectly trying the other as if it was the one they are used to.

Like Machaira said, OpenGL is the equivalent of Direct3D, not Direct X. There are some other packages that fill in some of the other spots. For example, OpenAL does audio. SDL can be used as a replacement of DirectDraw, and I hear SDL_net isa good network interface. The only one I have experience with is SDL.

There are also some design differences. OpenGL is really designed with C in mind, therefore it was not made to be class based. It is procedural. DirectX on the other hand has long been meant to be used with classes and was made with C++ in mind.

OpenGL is always revised by a committee, which does make it slow to change. DirectX is purely owned by Microsoft, even though they do enlist the help of Graphic Card makers, and is therefore a little faster to really incorporate new functionality.

Hardout Programmer@ · Grasshopper Joined: 23 May 2004 Posts: 2

OpenGL rocks man. It's alot easier to program with, though I have never tried DirectX but I have seen examples.

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Cerulean · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2005 6:58 am Post subject:

And what is it that you agree with, exactly? He just asked a question Razz

.

I hear DirectX/Direct3D's biggest problem is that you build up a buffer of `commands` and then send it to be processed. Apparently quite inefficient. There's more on it around the net.

theraje · Cap'n Arr! Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 262

Ignore him, Cerulean. Apparently he's been spamming the boards with nonsensical posts, probably just to get people to click on his sig.