Talk:Direct3D vs. OpenGL
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Uneven Table
How do you line up the two columns of the table. The Direct3D is squished on the left. I couldn't figure out how to fix it.
- Bladder.
- Can't help it, it's because the OpenGL column has more text in it (due to the long list of platforms). Reedbeta 10:58, 11 Jul 2005 (CDT)
- It's simple really, you just add a style tag and declare one table space to be exactly 50% width (like I've done). -Emhilradim 03:27, 25 May 2007 (CDT)
- I pro actively dressed up the table to use a third column for topics of interest, as well as using bolding for the left column in order to differentiate between comparison and being a topic. I don't think we need colour in the table, so I didn't really add it. -Emhilradim 03:38, 25 May 2007 (CDT)
Multiple code paths..
I would suggest to take away the issue of multiple code paths. While it is indeed true that GL often requires special hardware-related paths, they are usually quite similar. Actually, most vendors agreed of a standard functionality set so this is not really a problem for now.
I mean, this looks scary but it isn't.
- It's still a reality though, it's not completely standardized or anythign so you still need multiple code paths when you really want to optimize certain things and make full use of the hardware.
- I changed the text to place less emphasis on extension loading (you're right, it isn't that scary), and added a new row indicating that multiple code paths are needed only for cutting-edge features. Reedbeta 12:06, 12 Jul 2005 (CDT)
- Made the text less scary. The way you put it made D3D seem like an API that dosent support the latest features.bladder 21:43, 14 Jul 2005 (CDT)
Stability
I think it is an important part. Microsoft is always changing DirectX API while OpenGL is much more stable.
- The dx API is not being constantly changed. It's just being updted while the API remains the same. Both a very stable in this regard
- Furthermore, old versions of DX continue to work properly on modern machines, same as in OpenGL. Both APIs are adding new features from time to time; that's just because the hardware is advancing. Reedbeta 16:45, 24 Sep 2005 (CDT)
Space definition
To define the 3D environnement, DirectX uses a left-handed coordinates system. OpenGL uses a right-handed one which is standardize by the professional modeling industry.
OpenGL Language
I'm only new to graphics programming, but I thought that openGL was multi-lingual, so you don't have to use C, you could use java, C++ or one of many others? That's the impression I get from the page on on openGl at wikipedia anyway.
- You are correct, it is available across multiple platforms as well as multiple languages, including the all-encompassing Assembly language (which no one seems to mention at all around here). I've appended the article to show this, as it is relevant data. -Emhilradim 03:21, 25 May 2007 (CDT)
Slight rewording
"However, DirectX cannot be compared with OpenGL because DirectX is an entire suite of libraries (including input, audio and graphics libraries), while OpenGL is just a graphics library"
This particular statement does not sound NPOV, as it uses wording that leverages DirectX as being superior in some form. I've reworded the statement to be more NPOV, and to be fair to the OpenGL APL, including leveraging that OpenGL adequately on its own as a cross-platform API. I feel this adequately places them on an even level, rather than make one sound better than another. -Emhilradim 03:24, 25 May 2007 (CDT)
