Preface This book is a concise introduction to OpenSceneGraph (OSG)-the cross-platform open source scene graph application programmer interface (APD).Specifically,this book documents OSG v1.3.OSG plays a key role in the 3D application software stack.It's the middleware above the lower-level OpenGL hardware abstraction layer (HAL),providing extensive higher-level rendering,I/O,and spatial organization functionality to the 3D application. For many years,OSG has thrived with only its source code as documentation.The OSG distribution includes several examples that illustrate various rendering effects,and methods for integrating OSG with end-user applications.These illustrative examples,along with the ability to step through core OSG in a debugger,have enabled several developers to become proficient in the OSG API. Although source code has sufficed as documentation in the past,it is no substitute for more traditional forms of documentation.Manuals lend themselves quite easily to pedagogical instruments such as figures and tables,which are difficult to embed in source code.As OSG has grown and become more complex,lack of formal documentation has unacceptably lengthened the learning curve for new users.Prior to this book's release,the lack of formal OSG documentation has caused some developers to wonder if OSG is mature and robust enough to support professional-quality applications. By mid-2006,both Don Burns and Robert Osfield had recognized the need for an OSG book.Don had a client,Computer Graphics Systems Development Corporation(CGSD), whose contract called for OSG documentation,so he subcontracted the documentation development to Paul Martz.Robert suggested that the first OSG book should be freely available and concise in nature.Thus,the Open.SceneGrapb Ouick Start Guide was born. The OpenSceneGruph Ouice Start Guide is a short programming guide that covers the basic and essential elements of the OSG API.It is the first in a series of planned books to document OSG with more comprehensive material to follow.The goals of the OpenSceneGraph Ouick Start Guide are listed below. Provide new OSG developers with a quick and affordable introduction to OSG basics. Familiarize the reader with the OSG distribution and source code organization. Illustrate proper use of the commonly used elements of the OSG API. Direct the reader to sources of more thorough documentation. OpenSceneGraph Quick Start GuideOpenSceneGraph Quick Start Guide v Preface This book is a concise introduction to OpenSceneGraph (OSG)—the cross-platform open source scene graph application programmer interface (API). Specifically, this book documents OSG v1.3. OSG plays a key role in the 3D application software stack. It’s the middleware above the lower-level OpenGL hardware abstraction layer (HAL), providing extensive higher-level rendering, I/O, and spatial organization functionality to the 3D application. For many years, OSG has thrived with only its source code as documentation. The OSG distribution includes several examples that illustrate various rendering effects, and methods for integrating OSG with end-user applications. These illustrative examples, along with the ability to step through core OSG in a debugger, have enabled several developers to become proficient in the OSG API. Although source code has sufficed as documentation in the past, it is no substitute for more traditional forms of documentation. Manuals lend themselves quite easily to pedagogical instruments such as figures and tables, which are difficult to embed in source code. As OSG has grown and become more complex, lack of formal documentation has unacceptably lengthened the learning curve for new users. Prior to this book’s release, the lack of formal OSG documentation has caused some developers to wonder if OSG is mature and robust enough to support professional-quality applications. By mid-2006, both Don Burns and Robert Osfield had recognized the need for an OSG book. Don had a client, Computer Graphics Systems Development Corporation (CGSD), whose contract called for OSG documentation, so he subcontracted the documentation development to Paul Martz. Robert suggested that the first OSG book should be freely available and concise in nature. Thus, the OpenSceneGraph Quick Start Guide was born. The OpenSceneGraph Quick Start Guide is a short programming guide that covers the basic and essential elements of the OSG API. It is the first in a series of planned books to document OSG with more comprehensive material to follow. The goals of the OpenSceneGraph Quick Start Guide are listed below. • Provide new OSG developers with a quick and affordable introduction to OSG basics. • Familiarize the reader with the OSG distribution and source code organization. • Illustrate proper use of the commonly used elements of the OSG API. • Direct the reader to sources of more thorough documentation