Hello, I’m currently learning Xlib with the goal of eventually using OpenGL on X Window. I don’t want to use GLUT, even though it would make the coding easier (but with slower execution) and “portable”. My questions are as follows: Where does GLX fit in when programming OpenGL graphics on X? My understanding so far is that GLX is an extension to X, but does that imply a speed penality? Can’t I just use Xlib calls and OpenGL without using GLX aswell? Speed is the priority. Thank you for any responses you may provide.
–e!
He,
What I think is true is that the GLX calls are the OpenGL 3D api calls. If you use a correct glx lib specifically for you video card it get accellerated, otherwise you get software rendering (mesa specific?)
so you really can’t get past glx. And it’s probably fast enough? Don’t know how the DRI fits in all this, but maybe that’s the thing you’re looking for…
John
Sjonny–
Thanks for the reply. So GLX is the Xlib extension to accelerate OpenGL graphics, right? What’s DRI? 
DRI is the new Direct Rendering Interface used in XFree 4.0. go to http://www.precisioninsight.com/ for more details on this. Or just http://www.xfree86.org.
John
I don’t want to use GLUT, even though it would make the coding easier (but with slower execution) and “portable”.
Maybe you want to try SDL. It’s available for many plattforms, and it’s faster than glut…
take a look at www.libsdl.org