This software is a clone of the GLUT library, which is available as open source. It provides a platform for creating graphics and displaying images in a windowed environment.
Freeglut is an excellent OpenSourced alternative to the OpenGL Utility Toolkit (GLUT) library. Based on the original GLUT library, Freeglut was created by a group of enthusiasts who saw the need for a modern and improved version of the library. The original GLUT was designed by Mark Kilgard to support the sample programs in the second edition OpenGL RedBook. GLUT is simple, widely available and highly portable and hence is used in a wide variety of practical applications. GLUT (and Freeglut) allows the user to create and manage windows containing OpenGL contexts on a wide range of platforms and also read the mouse, keyboard and joystick functions.
The freeglut project is released under the X-Consortium license, allowing users to modify and distribute the library without any restrictions. In contrast, the original GLUT library seems to have been discontinued with the most recent version dating back to August 1998. Additionally, its license does not allow users to distribute modified library code, making it less user-friendly. GLUT is getting old and really needs an update, and its license is incompatible with some software distributions such as XFree86.
Freeglut comes with a host of improvements and features over the original GLUT version, making it a more attractive option for developers. For instance, it has full support for OpenGL 3 and upwards, ensuring that users are working with the latest version of the graphics library. It is also cross-platform, working across multiple operating systems and is compatible with Linux, Windows, and Mac.
In conclusion, Freeglut is an excellent tool for developers looking for a modern and updated version of the GLUT library. With improved features, full support for OpenGL 3 and upward, and a more user-friendly license, Freeglut is the perfect choice for developers.
The freeglut project is released under the X-Consortium license, allowing users to modify and distribute the library without any restrictions. In contrast, the original GLUT library seems to have been discontinued with the most recent version dating back to August 1998. Additionally, its license does not allow users to distribute modified library code, making it less user-friendly. GLUT is getting old and really needs an update, and its license is incompatible with some software distributions such as XFree86.
Freeglut comes with a host of improvements and features over the original GLUT version, making it a more attractive option for developers. For instance, it has full support for OpenGL 3 and upwards, ensuring that users are working with the latest version of the graphics library. It is also cross-platform, working across multiple operating systems and is compatible with Linux, Windows, and Mac.
In conclusion, Freeglut is an excellent tool for developers looking for a modern and updated version of the GLUT library. With improved features, full support for OpenGL 3 and upward, and a more user-friendly license, Freeglut is the perfect choice for developers.
What's New
Version 2.2.0 / 2.6.0 RC1: N/A