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From: leech@cs.unc.edu (Jon Leech)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics.api.misc,comp.graphics.algorithms,comp.windows.x.i386unix,gnu.misc.discuss,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.os.linux.development.apps
Subject: Re: Freeware community needs 3d library NOW
Followup-To: comp.graphics.api.misc
Date: 27 Jun 1996 10:38:33 -0400
Organization: UNC PixelFlow Project
Lines: 45
Message-ID: <4qu6d9$mia@watt.cs.unc.edu>
References: <4qlf04$7pj@guysmiley.blarg.net> <4qn08b$ntl@fido.asd.sgi.com> <4qt66a$nag@guysmiley.blarg.net>
NNTP-Posting-Host: watt.cs.unc.edu
Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.graphics.api.misc:649 comp.graphics.algorithms:29044 comp.windows.x.i386unix:20373 gnu.misc.discuss:26753 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:22284 comp.os.linux.development.apps:18125
In article <4qt66a$nag@guysmiley.blarg.net>,
Brandon J. Van Every <vanevery@blarg.net> wrote:
>1) OpenGL guarantees the order of rendering. There should be an
>option to control whether there's a guarantee or not. This has
>enormous implications for large background Phong-shaded triangles,
>etc.
I think this is the first thing you've *ever* said that I agree with.
Had to happen someday.
>2) OpenGL allows the user to switch cotexts at any time, even though
>those context switches are typically enormously disruptive to system
>throughput.
OpenGL has no notion of "context". You are referring to GLX, presumably.
>3) OpenGL implements way too many features that BOTH impede efficency
>AND are not important to support in a large number of applications.
Lighting! What a silly waste. *My* application doesn't need it.
>5) OpenGL makes no guarantee that the lighting normal is the same as
>the surface normal.
Although if I *did* need it, it would be essential to allow polygons
which are lit according to the underlying curved surface they approximate
rather than as faceted pieces of plastic.
>6) OpenGL has no provisions for pre-cached global diffuse shaded
>vertices.
glDisable(GL_LIGHTING);
...
glColor3fv(&cached_color[vertex]);
>N-N+k) OpenGL doesn't have <obscure feature XYZ which is in no way general
>purpose>
So write an extension. If you want a games API, you know where to find
it.
Note followups.
Jon
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