Pure OpenGL on Windows?

Question

I want to use OpenGL without GLFW, the docs say that I need to add opengl32.lib to linker dependencies.

How do I specifically import OpenGL and use it, where is opengl32.lib and how do I add it to my CMakeLists.txt or link in Visual Studio's properties?

It depends on the version of OpenGL you want to use. For any recent feature, you have to dynamically load OpenGL at runtime. `opengl32.lib` is useless for any OpenGL >=2 feature — SpacePotatoes, May 13 '22 at 08:09
@SpacePotatoes You can use all of opengl with just *opengl32.lib*. That dynamic loading is done with `wglGetProcAddress` which comes from *opengl32.lib*. — vandench, May 13 '22 at 13:40
@van dench indeed you're right. I've forgotten this point, since I was using `glad` which dynamically loads `opengl32`. — SpacePotatoes, May 13 '22 at 15:28
@SpacePotatoes I have linked the directory but it acts a bit weird, it gives me the defines but gives an error on everything else, also includes just fine. i have followed dench 's comment but that answer states that i must also link to the header files and put dll files on my dir if needed but i don't know where the header files and the dll's are, i just put opengl32.lib into my linker->Additional Dependencies. Also i couln'd find wglGetProcAddress but thats not that important since everything i need is in gl.h — , May 13 '22 at 15:50
@user19068953 Whether you have included the header file `windows.h`? The Windows functions that support Microsoft's implementation of OpenGL in Windows must include the header file Windows.h. — Jeaninez - MSFT, May 16 '22 at 01:47
Upon closer inspection, ~these are loafers~ this is not actually a great duplicate... — user253751, May 16 '22 at 15:36

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered May 12 '22 at 22:55

You can use the find-module shipped with cmake using find_package(OpenGL). When OpenGL is found, you can use the target OpenGL::GL to link your executable against opengl32.lib. See the official doc for more targets.

find_package(OpenGL REQUIRED)
add_executable(myApp main.cpp)
target_link_libraries(myApp OpenGL::GL)

Pure OpenGL on Windows?

1 Answers1