OpenGL or DirectX?

[AzureFire]

I've known very basic C/C++ for a couple of years, and I've known Turing since the beginning of the year. And knowing what was required for graphics in C/C++, it blew me away how easy it was in Turing. So my question, which is better for learning first (I will need to learn both eventually) OpenGL or DirectX? I know I'm not ready to do graphics yet, but I'd like to know where to start, and jump right in when I get there.

Thanks for your opinions

[wtd]

OpenGL or SDL. No reason to get tied down to Windows.

[Mazer]

Asking people to pick the best from OpenGL and DirectX is never good. It's not such a problem here on compsci.ca because few people really care about graphics APIs enough to actually get into a flamewar over it. They both have their strengths.

That said, here's a slightly sarcastic and fairly biased tutorial of sorts that I wrote a while ago and failed to sticky. Hopefully that'll give you some ideas. If not, ask questions.

[AzureFire]

Mazer wrote:

Asking people to pick the best from OpenGL and DirectX is never good. It's not such a problem here on compsci.ca because few people really care about graphics APIs enough to actually get into a flamewar over it. They both have their strengths.

That said, here's a slightly sarcastic and fairly biased tutorial of sorts that I wrote a while ago and failed to sticky. Hopefully that'll give you some ideas. If not, ask questions.

I ask for peoples opinion so they can make their arguments and I can pick and choose the details I like about each, I don't mean to start a flame war if that's what you're getting at .
Also, I've thoroughly read that post(good job on that btw, most people don't and can't understand why there's a difference between C/C++ and Turing ), and I couldn't decide from what you said about each. At this point I really don't care about cross-platformness because I'm a student, and most likely I'll be the only person running these programs. So really, I'm all about which is easiest to learn, and which can I build on later, for now. As I said, I'm a student, so I'll be learning both by the time I get to University anyway.... hopefully

[wtd]

Both are big complex beasts. The whole DirectX package is likely a bit more vast, considering the breadth of functionality it covers.

If you're looking for easy to learn, then the answer is neither.

[AzureFire]

lol, I'm not looking for easy to learn, that was Turing. I'm looking for which is easier of the two, or if that doesn't clear things up, which is more understandable, which has better flexibility etc.?

I guess what I'm asking is; I have no idea which to try first, what's your opinion?

[aldreneo]

What OS and compiler(or IDE) are you using?

[aldreneo]

I would go with OpenGl

[AzureFire]

Windows XP : MinGW(GCC) w Crimson Editor (as recommended by a friend)

P.S. I've started looking at OpenGL, and seems so far to be easily understandible, even for me

[AzureFire]

Does OpenGL require a dowload for a library and includes before you can use it? I've been looking all over their site and can't find anything, but just to be sure...

[aldreneo]

Yes, its called glut
The page on opengl's site is here:
http://www.opengl.org/resources/libraries/glut/
The windows version is here:
http://www.xmission.com/~nate/glut.html

[md]

No, you don't actually require the glut. The glut is simply a tool to make OpenGL a little easier. You might require the OpenGL libraries if they do not come with MinGW (I don't know if they do or not).

OpenGL and SDL is definitely the way to go. If you don't need any of the 3d aspects you can just use the SDL and forget about OpenGL even.

[Mazer]

Aye, SDL and OpenGL to the max! I've considered at times to throw together a quick tutorial on using them, but you'll find such things all over the internet. (I think cornflake actually wrote one for SDL already)

Glut was ok to start with, but a few problems I had with it coupled with the fact that it is no longer being developed led me to using SDL.

[AzureFire]

Ok, thanks a lot guys. You've all been a lot of help.

[md]

IIRC I did write at least something on my expereinces getting SDL to work... kinda... but I'll be doing more of it soon; so maybe I'll write somethign better.