Hi Zach, Direct3D and OpenGL are comparable. OpenGL isn't generally open source though...
Direct3D and OSG aren't really, the former is low level immediate mode graphics API , the later is higher level retained mode scene graph API. Open source API's like SDL actually build on top of native libraries like DirectInput/DirectSound, so its really a case of using a portable layer ontop of native libs or using the native libs directly. As with all these comparisons the key is that you can do pretty well everything in OpenGL and related open API's that you can do with DirectX API's, and much more besides, and importantly you can do it on any platform you like. Direct3D 10 is a good example, it only works on Vista, while OpenGL extensions provide the same features on all platforms that support these extensions - this means XP, Visia, OSX, Linux. So its really a case of do you want to be tied to particular versions of Windows or not, its not a case of do I want this piece of function or not. In the case of real-time graphics Windows really isn't a good platform, the file system sucks and the multi-processing side is little better. This means even if DirectX competes on all the aspects you pick out, being tied to Windows makes you non competitive because you are stuck with the rest Windows that drags everything else down with it. Its far more sensible to go for Open Standards and Open Source API's across the board, it gives you the freedom to develop on the platform which best suits your needs, and deliver on the platform that suits the end users needs. This might mean Windows all the way through one year, but the next delivering under Linux or OSX is far better the next, and perhaps the following year pinging back to Windows. You have the choice to pick best of breed, and remain nibble and competitive. Robert. On 7/18/07, Zach Deedler <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Hello osg-users, I saw some discussion about osg vs. directx in some emails. I was wondering if we could examine this some more to find some advantages/disadvantages. Actually, open source vs. directx: OpenSource DirectX osg direct3d openal directsound sdl directinput scene graph n/a multiple files .x format cal3d direct3d Please add/modify the list as you see fit I think the only open source disadvantage that I found is the character animation is more efficient/easier with directx. Other things to examine are special effects, weather, celestial, lighting, shading, and text. _______________________________________________ osg-users mailing list osg-users@openscenegraph.net http://openscenegraph.net/mailman/listinfo/osg-users http://www.openscenegraph.org/
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