How to Setup OpenGL (installing glut) on Linux and Compile Programs

Fedora Core Instructions

I am assuming that you have the primary idea about what OpenGL is and what it does. Hence, without wasting any more time let's see how to set it up or install on Linux Operating System.

First check for files gl.h and glut.h

# cd /usr/include/GL # ls glext.h glu.h glx.h glxmd.h internal gl.h glu_mangle.h glxint.h glxproto.h gl_mangle.h glxext.h glx_mangle.h glxtokens.h

We have gl.h but no glut.h Hence we have to install development packages. If you don't have gl.h then you have to install mesa graphics libraries or nvidia libraries if you are using nvidia graphics card.

As freeglut devel package provides glut.h we are going to install it.

# yum -y install freeglut-devel Loaded plugins: presto, refresh-packagekit Setting up Install Process Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package freeglut-devel.i686 0:2.6.0-1.fc12 set to be updated --> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved ================================================================================ Package Arch Version Repository Size ================================================================================ Installing: freeglut-devel i686 2.6.0-1.fc12 updates 112 k Transaction Summary ================================================================================ Install 1 Package(s) Upgrade 0 Package(s) Total download size: 112 k Downloading Packages: Setting up and reading Presto delta metadata updates/prestodelta | 322 kB 00:30 Processing delta metadata Package(s) data still to download: 112 k freeglut-devel-2.6.0-1.fc12.i686.rpm | 112 kB 00:11 Running rpm_check_debug Running Transaction Test Finished Transaction Test Transaction Test Succeeded Running Transaction Installing : freeglut-devel-2.6.0-1.fc12.i686 1/1 Installed: freeglut-devel.i686 0:2.6.0-1.fc12 Complete! # ls freeglut_ext.h glext.h glu.h glxext.h glx_mangle.h glxtokens.h freeglut.h gl.h glu_mangle.h glx.h glxmd.h internal freeglut_std.h gl_mangle.h glut.h glxint.h glxproto.h

Installation of OpenGL in a Machine without Internet Connection

Download freeglut-devel according to your distribution using a PC that has internet connection.
      freeglut-devel for Fedora Core 8
      freeglut-devel for Fedora Core 9
      freeglut-devel for Fedora Core 10
      freeglut-devel for Fedora Core 11
      freeglut-devel for Fedora Core 12

You can take the file to your PC using a memory device like USB Stick (pen drive)etc. Copy the file in the machine in which you want to install. Login as root(you can type su and provide root password after hitting enter). cd to the directory where you copied the file. Use this syntax to install them (rpm).

# rpm -Uvh filename.rpm

For Fedora Core 12 it will be like this

# rpm -Uvh freeglut-devel-2.6.0-1.fc12.i686.rpm

Now you'll find glut.h inside /usr/include/GL and that's all about installation.

# cd /usr/include/GL # ls glext.h glu.h glx.h glxmd.h internal gl.h glu_mangle.h glxint.h glxproto.h gl_mangle.h glxext.h glx_mangle.h glxtokens.h

Now we have glut.h along with other files. If everything is okay and hardware acceleration is enabled then glxinfo command will show "direct rendering: Yes"

# glxinfo name of display: :0.0 display: :0 screen: 0 direct rendering: Yes server glx vendor string: SGI server glx version string: 1.4 server glx extensions: GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, ......................................................................

Ubuntu Instructions

For ubuntu I would recommend you to follow this Video tutorial. This is a good one.
       http://www.videotutorialsrock.com/opengl_tutorial/get_opengl_setup_linux/video.php

Writing Opengl Programs and Compiling on Linux

Create a new directory.

$ mkdir og

Change directory.

$ cd og

Use a text-editor to create a make file inside the directory with following contents. For example, you can use command like this, (Or you can download files from the bottom of the post)

$ gedit Makefile&

Contents

CC = g++ CFLAGS = -Wall PROG = basicshapes SRCS = main.cpp ifeq ($(shell uname),Darwin) LIBS = -framework OpenGL -framework GLUT else LIBS = -lGL -lGLU -lglut endif all: $(PROG) $(PROG): $(SRCS) $(CC) $(CFLAGS) -o $(PROG) $(SRCS) $(LIBS) clean: rm -f $(PROG)

In the same way create a file named "main.cpp" with following contents

/* Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
 * of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
 * in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
 * to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
 * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
 * furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
 *
 * The above notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies
 * or substantial portions of the Software.
 *
 * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
 * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
 * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
 * AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
 * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
 * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 * SOFTWARE.
 */

/* File for "Basic Shapes" lesson of the OpenGL tutorial on
 * www.videotutorialsrock.com
 */

#include <iostream>

#include <stdlib.h> //Needed for "exit" function

//Include OpenGL header files, so that we can use OpenGL

#ifdef __APPLE__

#include <OpenGL/OpenGL.h>

#include <glut/glut.h>

#else

#include <GL/glut.h>

#endif

using namespace std;

//Called when a key is pressed

void handleKeypress(unsigned char key, //The key that was pressed

                              int x, int y) {    //The current mouse coordinates

      switch (key) {

            case 27: //Escape key

            exit(0); //Exit the program

      }

}

//Initializes 3D rendering

void initRendering() {

      //Makes 3D drawing work when something is in front of something else

      glEnable(GL_DEPTH_TEST);

}

//Called when the window is resized

void handleResize(int w, int h) {

      //Tell OpenGL how to convert from coordinates to pixel values

      glViewport(0, 0, w, h);

     

      glMatrixMode(GL_PROJECTION); //Switch to setting the camera perspective

     

      //Set the camera perspective

      glLoadIdentity();      //Reset the camera

      gluPerspective(45.0,                  //The camera angle

                  (double)w / (double)h, //The width-to-height ratio

                  1.0,             //The near z clipping coordinate

                  200.0);          //The far z clipping coordinate

}

//Draws the 3D scene

void drawScene() {

      //Clear information from last draw

      glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT | GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BIT);

     

      glMatrixMode(GL_MODELVIEW); //Switch to the drawing perspective

      glLoadIdentity(); //Reset the drawing perspective

     

      glBegin(GL_QUADS); //Begin quadrilateral coordinates

     

      //Trapezoid

      glVertex3f(-0.7f, -1.5f, -5.0f);

      glVertex3f(0.7f, -1.5f, -5.0f);

      glVertex3f(0.4f, -0.5f, -5.0f);

      glVertex3f(-0.4f, -0.5f, -5.0f);

      

      glEnd(); //End quadrilateral coordinates

     

      glBegin(GL_TRIANGLES); //Begin triangle coordinates

     

      //Pentagon

      glVertex3f(0.5f, 0.5f, -5.0f);

      glVertex3f(1.5f, 0.5f, -5.0f);

      glVertex3f(0.5f, 1.0f, -5.0f);

     

      glVertex3f(0.5f, 1.0f, -5.0f);

      glVertex3f(1.5f, 0.5f, -5.0f);

      glVertex3f(1.5f, 1.0f, -5.0f);

     

      glVertex3f(0.5f, 1.0f, -5.0f);

      glVertex3f(1.5f, 1.0f, -5.0f);

      glVertex3f(1.0f, 1.5f, -5.0f);

     

      //Triangle

      glVertex3f(-0.5f, 0.5f, -5.0f);

      glVertex3f(-1.0f, 1.5f, -5.0f);

      glVertex3f(-1.5f, 0.5f, -5.0f);

     

      glEnd(); //End triangle coordinates

     

      glutSwapBuffers(); //Send the 3D scene to the screen

}

int main(int argc, char** argv) {

      //Initialize GLUT

      glutInit(&argc, argv);

      glutInitDisplayMode(GLUT_DOUBLE | GLUT_RGB | GLUT_DEPTH);

      glutInitWindowSize(400, 400); //Set the window size

     

      //Create the window

      glutCreateWindow("Basic Shapes - videotutorialsrock.com");

      initRendering(); //Initialize rendering

     

      //Set handler functions for drawing, keypresses, and window resizes

      glutDisplayFunc(drawScene);

      glutKeyboardFunc(handleKeypress);

      glutReshapeFunc(handleResize);

     

      glutMainLoop(); //Start the main loop.  glutMainLoop doesn't return.

      return 0; //This line is never reached

}

Now compile (simple make command will do this) and run the program

# make g++ -Wall -o basicshapes main.cpp -lGL -lGLU -lglut $ ls basicshapes main.cpp Makefile $ ./basicshapes &

A new window will appear like this one

[Click to enlarge image]

Write in comments if you face any exception.

Download attached files.
          BasicShape.zip