Programming a renderer.

You might want to look into OGRE (do a search on google) as that is an object oriented graphics rendering engine. It is very complicated though.

1) Write games not engines.

2) Look at how other rendering engines work:
Ogre
Wild Magic

Thanks people opening new tabs in firefox as I type this.

Quote:

Original post by dmatter 1) Write games not engines. 2) Look at how other rendering engines work: Ogre Wild Magic

What if he's not writing an engine. What if he knows he needs to write N rendering features because he has a full design and doesn't have much information on the best way to structure a renderer?

To the OP, is there something specific you are having trouble with?

Quote:

Original post by Dave Quote: Original post by dmatter 1) Write games not engines. 2) Look at how other rendering engines work: Ogre Wild Magic What if he's not writing an engine. What if he knows he needs to write N rendering features because he has a full design and doesn't have much information on the best way to structure a renderer?

Well two thirds of the links in my first post were to help with the renderer and its features. The other 1/3 was to cater for the opposite argument, what if he is writing a game engine with no game in mind first.
Seems fair to cover all angles [smile]

You could post 100s of links related to dos and don'ts in regards to programming in general, however there is no point in making assumptions. Often OPs don't post enough information and it is far easier to ask for more information and then post links that are completely relevant. [smile]

EDIT: Don't mean to sound bitchy, just saying :), ok slightly bitchy, tiring day at work. [smile]

You are right I didnt provide enough information. I apologize for this. Indeed I am not building a game engine. I want however to build a renderer for education purposes ONLY. I won't build a game on anything. That is why I asked for the info. Thanks for the replies.

So first of all then, what kind of things are you aiming to achieve with this renderer. If you are not make a game, then are you intending to use it as a testbed for shaders, something along those lines?

Also,

What language are you programming in?
What rendering API or APIs are you intending to use?
What experience do you have in these languages and APIs?
When you use the term 'renderer' do you mean the rendering portion of an engine (which can be very extensive) or do you mean a 3D application (to which there are many more components)?

Thanks,

Quote:

Original post by Dave Often OPs don't post enough information and it is far easier to ask for more information and then post links that are completely relevant. [smile]

True, Ok, point conceded, mostly - unlike the majority of links the 'write games not engines' article is rarely going to be an irrelevant read for an engine developer; but in the general case you are right.

Quote:

EDIT: Don't mean to sound bitchy, just saying :), ok slightly bitchy, tiring day at work. [smile]

Same here, and no worries; I'm in a terse mood and prefering the "dumps all infos and leaves" approach to forum posts [grin]

*coughs* - anyhoo I'll allow everyone get on with the original topic :)

I am going to use C++ and OpenGL which I am fairly experienced with. I am only interested in the rendering portion. I would even like to study the math behind it. Thanks for the interest Dave :) .

GDNet is literally teeming with threads about modern renderer designs, most of them oriented towards 3D renderers but I see no reason why they wouldn't apply for 2D aswell.

Here are more links of interest:

• jpetrie's renderer overview - A good place to start IMO.
  
• Yann's shader driven pipeline - Many more threads were spawned from this, use the search feature to find them.
  
• Jason Z's renderer design is here and especially here.
  
• A discussion about a renderer subsystem - More of the above ideas really, could be an easier read, I don't know.
  
• Ysaneya's pipes framework is here and later revampt here.

Dmatter thank you for the links.

Hi,
I have found those links pretty usefull, specially the Jason Zink rendering design.

You can check an overview of the rendering design of the offset engine in its developer blog. Its not updated frequently but its very interesting the comments on the rendering design.

http://www.projectoffset.com/blog.php

Sincerely,
Rubén Penalva