I''ve been trying to learn C++ for a while now and it is finally starting to click. I want to move onto graphics but I''d like more understanding of how to do them. I haven''t started on Windows yet, and I want to learn the why as well as the how. Can anyone recommend any books or sites that might help me? I''m really after the low level stuff so that I can understand how I''m doing it instead of just knowing what to type. Thanks for any help. PhilHalf

DOS / VGA programming is a great place to start if you want to understand the lower level nitty gritty stuff.

DOS is easy to program in (make sure you use a 32 bit compiler though), and the VGA is easy to program for.

However, DOS is dead, so once you get the hang of it, move up in the world.

Thanks for your reply.
I know that DOS is dead and I am only looking for resources to better understand graphics so that I know exactly what a DX/OGL function is doing within a Windows environment.
Are there any sites, or preferably books, that will explain DOS/VGA programming?

Thanks again for any help.

PhilHalf

Edited by - PhilHalf on August 10, 2001 4:43:27 AM

THE Reference for VGA programming: Graphics programming black book (by John Carmack).

Why not use OpenPTC? http://www.gaffer.org/ptc/
It''s very much like DOS/VGA graphics programming, the difference is, it uses Windows.

Really easy, really good. Check it out.

Thanks for your replies.

HiddenInBSP: I couldn''t find the book that you mentioned. Do you have a link to it on any online bookstores?

AP: I''m not after something that''s simple, I''m specifically looking for low level VGA programming in a DOS environment.

Thanks again for any help.

JC didn''t write the Black Book. Michael Abrash did. It''s available for download from Dr Dobbs site (www.ddj.com/) but it''s a tad large (150mb). All you really need is the stuff on polygons that make up the latter half of the book.

My advice is to grab a copy of the OpenGL red book and learn from that. Use GLUT to begin with and when you feel a little more confident break out into full windows. NeHe''s site is a good place to begin.


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