Using Open Geometry GL with LINUX

Abstract

OpenGeometry is a graphic library for programming geometry. It is based on C++ and OpenGl/Mesa3D. The reader is enabled to realize geometrical thinking without having to care much about implementation. (cit. from the preface of the first book)

The source-code of the library is published with these books:

• Version 1: Open Geometry: OpenGL + Advanced Geometry by Georg Glaeser, Hellmuth Stachel,
  1999 Springer,
  ISBN 0-387-98599-9
• Version 2: Handbook of geometric programming using Open Geometry GL by Georg Glaeser, Hans-Peter Schröcker,
  2002 Springer,
  ISBN 0-378-95272-1

In order to compile the library with gcc under LINUX you have to patch the source-code.

Get Open Geometry running with LINUX

Please note: the library source-code is only provided with the books.

Open Geometry Version 1

Follow these generic steps to get the program compiled with LINUX. The details to setup the C++-development environment for OpenGL development are beyond the scope of these hints.

• Basicly you need LINUX with a GNU-C development environment - gcc
• As this is all about OpenGL you also need the free implementation of it, a Mesa3D development environment:
• The OpenGL API - libgl1-mesa-dev
• The OpenGL utility library - libglu1-mesa-dev
• The OpenGL utility toolkit - freeglut2-dev

The names of the software-packages to install vary depending on the used LINUX-distribution. These names are from Debian.

• Now the rest should be straight forward. Enter the following statements in a terminal window:

  (1) mkdir og10
  (2) cd og10
  (3) unzip -x opengeom.zip (That are the sources from the book-CD)
  (4) patch -p1 < og1.0_linux0.1.patch (That's the patch)
  (5) make
  (6) ./x
  (7) bash ./show_examples.sh
  

  Explanation:
   

1. Create a directory to hold all our data (optional)
2. Change to this directory (optional)
3. Unpack the zip-archive with the library-source
4. Apply the patch
5. make compiles the library and creates a first executable example, called x.
6. Start up the example. It shows a simulation of earth and moon. You can animate the view by pressing keys f and t in turn and change some options like viewpoint, lightning, zoom, ... Key k shows a list with the options.

7. The last step starts up a dialog-programm in the terminal-window where all the examples that are provided with the library source can be compiled and run in turn. Use the cursor-keys to select an example and RETURN to start it. Please note: Most of them are working, but some don't.

   Show_examples.sh uses the program dialog to show the list. The reqired Debian package is called - dialog.

Open Geometry Version 2

Use this small recipe to get the library running under LINUX. This is for Open Geometry GL version 2 and Knoppix 5.3.

Please note: the library source-code is only provided with the books.

• Get LINUX running on your PC. If you don't have it already, use a LINUX-Live-CD or -DVD. This boots LINUX from a CD or DVD without changing any data on your PC. This description is based on the Knoppix 5.3 DVD that is bundled with the German computer magacine c't 6/2008.
• Get the library source-code and the linux-patch and copy both files to a media that can be accesed from LINUX. A common way would be to copy both files to a USB-stick. The source-code of the library is located on the bundled CD in the file: linux/og20.tar.gz
• Boot with the Knoppix-5.3 DVD and insert the USB-stick. The desktop should show an icon for the USB-stick that contains the source and the patch. Double-click this icon. The address-line of the file-browser shows the mount-point of the media. Remeber its name. (Skip the prepending "system:")
• The following commands are to be entered in a terminal window. The prompt shows you are user knoppix.

  (1) mkdir og20
  (2) cd og20
  (3) tar -xvzf [mountpoint-of-the-stick]/og20.tar.gz
  (4) cd OpenGeometry2.0
  (5) patch -p1 < [mountpoint-of-the-stick]/og2.0_linux0.1.patch
  (6) sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libglut.so.3 /usr/lib/libglut.so
  (7) make
  (8) ./x
  (9) bash ./show_examples.sh
  

  Explanation:
   

1. Create a directory to hold all our data (optional)
2. Change to this directory (optional)
3. Unpack the tar-archive with the library-source
4. Change to the newly created directory
5. Apply the patch
6. This is wired. Knoppix doesn't provide the needed GLUT-Library under its usual name. So we create this alias for the lib.
7. make compiles the library and creates a first executable example, called x. Don't mind the many warnings.
8. Start up the example. It shows a geometrically constructed shell in front of a photograph of a shell. You can animate the shell by pressing keys f and t in turn and change some options like viewpoint, lightning, zoom, ... Key k shows a pop-up with all the options.

9. This last step starts up a dialog-programm in the terminal-window where all the examples that are provided with the library source can be compiled and run in turn. Use the cursor-keys to select an example and RETURN to start it. Please note: Most of them are working, but some don't.

Known problems

Non accelerated graphic: if the X-Server doesn't provide an accelerated driver for your graphic card, the animations will be slow.

Some examples are not functional: Due to different reasons some examples don't work. If you can fix a problem, please send a patch.

Links

• Open Geometry Home
• Knoppix Home
• c't 6/2008
• LINUX Patch for Open Geometry GL version 1
• LINUX Patch for Open Geometry GL version 2 to compile the 32-bit OG binary on 32-bit systems
• LINUX Patch for Open Geometry GL version 2 to compile the 32-bit OG binary on 64-bit systems