How To: Create basic 3D shapes using OpenGL and GLUT for C++

To start developing your own 3D games and programs, you're going to need to know the basics of C++, like shaping.
This video lesson will show you how to create basic shapes using OpenGL and GLUT for C++, so you can start making your own 3D programs. If you want to create your very first OpenGL project, this is the place to be.

With this general shape knowledge, you'll be able to code a simple OpenGL program, so pay attention. You learn the basics of drawing triangles and quadrilaterals to a window.

How does this specific program work? Well, the basic idea: we tell OpenGL the 3D coordinates of all of the vertices of our shapes. OpenGL uses the standard x and y axes, with the positive x direction pointing toward the right and the positive y direction pointing upward. However, in 3D we need another dimension, the z dimension. The positive z direction points out of the screen.

*Get the text version of this lesson.
*Download the source code.
*Try out the exercises.

Check out the other videos in this video series.