CMSC 498M:Fall 2006 Dave Mount
Programming Assignment 1: Getting Started with OpenGL
Handed out Thu, Sep 7. The program must be submitted to the grader by Thu, Sep 21 (any time
up to midnight). Submission instructions will be forthcoming. Here is the late policy: up to six
hours late: 5% of the total; up to 24 hours late: 10%, and then 15% for every additional day late.
Overview. The goal of this assignment is to review the basics of OpenGL and GLUT (and
to have fun) in anticipation of the major programming project, which will be handed out later.
Your objective is to implement a simple interactive program using OpenGL, subject to the general
requirements presented below. The emphasis is on showing that you know how to use OpenGL to
achieve certain visual effects, to manipulate simple 3-dimensional models, and to process graphical
user inputs through the keyboard and mouse. Producing an interesting or playable game is not
important (of course, the grader will need to test the various elements of your program).
Good Code Structure. (Roughly 10%) Before you begin, take a few moments to plan out your
program’s design. Although this is a small program, the goal here is to build a framework that
will make it easy to add more features without scrapping your old framework entirely. Although
a small program like this one could be reasonably implemented with a single .cpp file, such a
minimalist approach will not work for the final semester project. We will provide you with a
template program, which provides a simple, but general structure on which you can build. The
general program structure is described in the Template Program section below.
Required Elements. You have a great deal of latitude in implementing this assignment, but
to demonstrate that you have mastered the OpenGL programming skills needed for the semester
project, your program should contain all of the following elements.
3-dimensional Rendering: (Required) Your program should render and manipulate objects in
3-dimensional space. (But the physical movement and interaction can be 2-dimensional in
nature.)
Mouse and Keyboard Input: (Roughly 15%) Your program should accept inputs from the key-
board, both regular keys (e.g., ‘q’ for “quit”) and special keys (e.g., ‘↑’ for moving the camera
up), mouse button clicks, and mouse motion (e.g., using the mouse to aim a gun and a mouse
click to shoot it).
Lighting and Textures: (Roughly 20%) Your scene should consist of multiple light sources (not
the same ones we gave in the sample program) and texture mapping involving at least two
different image files (which you will provide).
Variable numbers of objects: (Roughly 10%) Our template program supports a fixed number
of objects. Through the use of lists and/or arrays, your program should allow for multiple
objects. For example, by hitting a key the user can create new objects in your world. (You
may place upper and lower limits on the number of such objects.)
Collision detection/response: (Roughly 15%) Your program should have some form collision
detection (e.g., by testing the bounding box of the moving objects) and should provide some
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