Thread: Is It Really That Complex to Add a C++ Library?

Wow, OK. I'm fairly adept with C++ and I want to download a graphics library, or at least find a tutorial to learn how to use C++'s built-in graphics commands, if it has any. I'm interested in learning how to make simple, 2D graphics like shapes and colors and whatnot. But it seems that whenever I browse through a site for such a type of library they always seem to say that I have to run "make" commands and download more stuff to get it to work on specific machines and I have to run commands on DOS.

Is it really that difficult? I'd imagine that I would need to do is stick a bunch of .h and .cpp files into the appropriate folders and the commands would be available.

I use Turbo C++ 4.5, an old but useful program, which I got from my computers teacher in high school. It lets me make and edit files, highlighting text in the current file and various other things - which I believe means it's an IDE. It also has a compiler built in. It is made by Borland International.

I recommend using GCC instead, Borland is a nightmare.

The library that you want is called OpenGL. It's always downloaded precompiled, because compiling it takes several hours. It's a MONSTEROUS library, but it's broken up so if you add it statically (which you should,) you only get what you need added to it.

C++ has no built-in graphics commands, it can't, it's designed to be cross-platform.

OpenGL is technically a C library, because it's old, cross language, and fast as hell. So you don't get the C++ advantages of templates, classes and such, but you can "C++"-ize it.

Code:

struct glBeginner{
   glBeginner(GLenum mode){
      glBegin(mode);
   }
   ~glBeginner(void){
      glEnd();
   }
};

void MakeTriangle(void){
   glBeginner scope(GL_LINES);
   glVertex3i(0, 0);
   glVertex3i(100, 0);
   glVertex3i(50, 50);
}

BTW, "make" should NEVER be done in DOS, it should be done in Cygwin, because make files are designed for *nix.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

so if you add it statically (which you should,)

Add statically? What does that mean?

Originally Posted by ninja9578

templates

Now you're just making me use Google more.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

BTW, "make" should NEVER be done in DOS, it should be done in Cygwin, because make files are designed for *nix.

Yep, I can put that with the rest of the information I didn't know.

Wait, is this something I can just go ahead and download off the internet, or is there more to it than just that?

Originally Posted by youssarian

Add statically? What does that mean?

There are two ways to link a library, statically and dynamically. Statically means that the executable will have the library embedded into it. A dynamic library is one that is separate from the executable and loaded when needed. On Windows it's got a dll extension. If you're doing a lot of graphics, you should add it statically because you have to load it before anything happens anyway.

Now you're just making me use Google more.

Templates are very very important to C++. It's good to lean how to use them. You don't have to, professionally, I rarely use templates, but there are times where there is no other way.

Yep, I can put that with the rest of the information I didn't know.

Thanks!

Cygwin is a Unix terminal for Windows. It gives you a real terminal, where-as DOS is a little kiddie terminal by comparison.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Cygwin is a Unix terminal for Windows. It gives you a real terminal, where-as DOS is a little kiddie terminal by comparison.

Cygwin will link all your files with cygwin1.dll though, to provide Unix functionality. And there is a makefile tool for windows, nmake. Though you do need a custom makefile. Also, powershell is actually a pretty good windows terminal, though I can't be arsed to learn it.

Code:

./configure
make
sudo make install

done

Originally Posted by khh

And there is a makefile tool for windows, nmake. Though you do need a custom makefile.

Then what good is that? make files are designed for UNIX based systems. If you're making an nmake file, it will ONLY work on Windows, and that's not the point of a make file.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Cygwin is a Unix terminal for Windows. It gives you a real terminal, where-as DOS is a little kiddie terminal by comparison.

Just to make one thing clear: cmd.exe is definately not DOS in any way, shape or form. And if you want a real CLI for Windows you use PowerShell anyway.

Originally Posted by youssarian

Wait, is this something I can just go ahead and download off the internet, or is there more to it than just that?

I didn't see this. Yes, OpenGL is free and comes precompiled, you can download it off of the web. Not sure if you can get the 3.2 API, Windows is near the bottom of the importance of porting. Should be able to get 3.0 though.

I thought you said you were adept at C++...

I could have been overestimating my skills.

Originally Posted by TweaK

I thought you said you were adept at C++...

Originally Posted by youssarian

I could have been overestimating my skills.

Don't second guess yourself. I'm a professional C++ programmer and it took me 3 days to figure out how to compile wxWidgets. As in 3 full work days.

Linux is by far the easiest for this: Ynot's 3 lines will install any package. Doing it on Mac OSX is very difficult, Windows is an absolute nightmare.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Linux is by far the easiest for this: Ynot's 3 lines will install any package. Doing it on Mac OSX is very difficult, Windows is an absolute nightmare.

Linux is super easy when it works. Which it doesn't always do.

Also, some projects include a MSVC project file, which makes it very easy to compile, if still difficult to actually install.

Originally Posted by khh

Linux is super easy when it works. Which it doesn't always do.

Errr... what?
when doesn't anything work?