LearnOpenGL

A comprehensive learning repository for OpenGL graphics programming in C++, following modern OpenGL practices (OpenGL 3.3+). This project contains implementations of various OpenGL concepts, from basic window creation to advanced rendering techniques.

Overview

This repository simply documents my hands-on learning journey and exercises covering fundamental OpenGL topics. Each example is self-contained and demonstrates specific OpenGL concepts with detailed comments and notes. Most of the code for now are direclty associated with units from learnopengl.com.

Table of Contents

• Project Structure
• Screenshots
• Prerequisites
• Building the Project
• Learning Resources
• License

Project Structure

The codebase has been refactored into a structured layout to cleanly separate assets, dependencies, core logic, and specific lessons:

• assets/ - Contains 3D models and textures (e.g., models like the backpack, planets, and skyboxes).
• external/ - Third-party libraries and dependencies (e.g., GLAD, GLFW, GLM, Assimp).
• images/ - Output screenshots and animated GIFs used for this documentation.
• include/ - Common header files representing the core OpenGL wrappers (camera.h, mesh.h, model.h, shader.h).
• src/ - Contains all execution code and scripts:
  • core/ - Implementing code for core components (camera.cpp, mesh.cpp, shader.cpp, stb_image.cpp).
  • lessons/ - Directory containing the individual .cpp files with main entrypoints for each tutorial/concept covered.
  • shaders/ - GLSL shader files (.vs, .fs, .gs) loaded and utilized by the diverse lessons.

Renders

Advaned Lighting

Point Shadowing

(04-26-2026)

Shadow Rendering

(04-22-2026)

Gamma Correction

(04-19-2026)

Advanced OpenGL

Asteroids

(04-12-2026)

Instancing Ex 1

(04-11-2026)

Exploding Normals

(04-10-2026)

Uniform Buffer Objects

(04-08-2026)

Environmental Rendering

Air to Glass Refraction

(04-04-2026)

Reflections Only

(04-03-2026)

Skybox

(03-31-2026)

Edge Detection

(03-28-2026)

Blurry Rendering

(03-28-2026)

Grayscale

(03-28-2026)

Inversion

(03-28-2026)

Semi Transparent Renders (Back to front rendering order)

(03-20-2026)

Rendering Transparent

(03-18-2026)

Object Outlining

(03-18-2026)

Lighting

Multiple Lights

(03-08-2026)

Flashlight

(03-07-2026)

Interesting Game Effect (Flashlight with hardedges)

(03-07-2026)

Point Light

(03-05-2026)

Phong Lighting Maps Material Model

(03-04-2026)

Phong Material Based Model

(03-03-2026)

Phong Model Basic Setup

(02-27-2026)

Basic Light Source and Color Render

(02-25-2026)

Camera

Free 3D Space Navigation with Doge Cubes

(02-22-2026)

Basic camera revolutions

(02-19-2026)

Coordinate System

Basic Perspective Transform 3D Multiple

(02-18-2026)

Basic Perspective Transform 3D

(02-18-2026)

Basic Perspective Transform

(02-18-2026)

Transformations

(02-17-2026)

Texture Rendering

(02-16-2026)

VBO and EBO Visualization

(02-09-2026)

First Render

(02-01-2026)

Prerequisites

Required Dependencies

• C++ Compiler: MSVC 2019 or later (Visual Studio)
• OpenGL: Version 3.3 or higher
• GLFW: Window creation and input handling
• GLAD: OpenGL function loader
• GLM: OpenGL Mathematics library (for transformations)
• stb_image: Image loading library (included in project)

Operating System

• Windows (Visual Studio project)
• Can be adapted for Linux/macOS with CMake

Building the Project

Using Visual Studio

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/learnOpenGL.git
   cd learnOpenGL

2. Open the solution:

   • Open learnOpenGL.slnx in Visual Studio 2022 or later

3. Configure the project:

   • Ensure GLFW and GLM are properly linked
   • Set include directories for GLAD, GLFW, GLM, and stb_image
   • Set library directories for GLFW

4. Build:

   • Select your build configuration (Debug/Release)
   • Build the solution (Ctrl+Shift+B)

5. Run:

   • Set the desired .cpp file as the startup file
   • Run the project (F5 or Ctrl+F5)

Dependencies Setup

Make sure to link the following libraries in your project settings:

• opengl32.lib
• glfw3.lib (or glfw3dll.lib if using DLL)

Include directories should point to:

• GLAD include folder containing glad/glad.h
• GLFW include folder containing GLFW/glfw3.h
• GLM include folder containing glm/glm.hpp

Learning Resources

This project follows the excellent tutorials from:

• LearnOpenGL.com - Primary learning resource
• OpenGL Documentation - Official reference
• GLFW Documentation - Window management
• GLM Documentation - Mathematics library

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Copyright (c) 2026 Bill Wang

Acknowledgments

• Joey de Vries for the amazing LearnOpenGL tutorials
• The OpenGL community for extensive documentation and support
• GLFW, GLAD, GLM, and stb_image library authors

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