Question

Portable Graphics library in C

Asked by: PaulCaswell

Hi All,

I am looking for a graphics library that will provide me with as many of the following features as possible:

1. Portability.

The tool I am working on will be useful on many platforms and I don't want to tie myself down to a specific OS at this stage.

2. C

I am hoping to implement a form of this tool as a device driver. Currently it is particularly complicated to write Windows device drivers in any language other than C.

3. Still AND moving image features.

This is less important. I am sure it should be possible to add moving image I/O but it certainly would be nice to have it for free as it were.

4. Hardware assist if available.

But only if it does not interfere with 1. above.

5. Source.

For debugging and deployment primarily. Not crucial but a definite plus.

6. 2d and 3d

Any maths stuff that comes with it needs to be capable of handling 3d as well as the usual 2d.

Clearly OpenGL is a good candidate but I would like to at least look at some other contenders. Thanks all in advance for your suggestions.

Paul

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Asked On
2008-02-09 at 08:54:52ID23150224
Tags

C

Topic

C Programming Language

Participating Experts
2
Points
250
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: LordWolfyPosted on 2008-02-09 at 20:29:47ID: 20860059

Try Allegro - http://www.talula.demon.co.uk/allegro/

Its mainly for games but has an extensive variety of graphics capabilities including for OpenGL

 

by: fridomPosted on 2008-02-11 at 07:12:08ID: 20866856

OpenGL itself is worth a look but also, Cairo from GTK+
Please check.
http://cairographics.org/

Regards
Friedrich

 

by: PaulCaswellPosted on 2008-02-11 at 11:44:25ID: 20869480

Thanks Friedrich and LordW,

Both good ideas.

I had a look at Cairo. Am I right that Cairo relies on OpenGL? In which case Allegro may be my best choice. It would probably still function in DriverSpace while I doubt that the OpenGL stuff would still be available down there. Am I right?

Paul

 

by: LordWolfyPosted on 2008-02-11 at 12:39:42ID: 20869999


OpenGL support is usually included in the drivers for most graphics cards.  The only problem is that its not well maintained.  It depends how complex the graphics need to be.  If its pretty simple then OpenGL should work fine.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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