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I have just started learning OpenGL using the tutorials on Nehe, and so far I am following them ok.
How necessary is it to understand all the setup code? The tutorial is using the Win32 api to set up a window, and I think I understand about 50% of the code.
Is it vital to understand all of the system calls and OpenGL boiler-plate initialization stuff, or can I just crack on without getting heavily lost down the line?
This is sort of a subjective question, but my opinion (and that of many others) is that you don’t need to write all that platform-specific boilerplate.
If you use another library like GLUT or SDL, it becomes much easier: let the library worry about setting up a window, and then you can focus on learning OpenGL. Unless of course you want to learn the WinAPI, but it seems like your priority lies elsewhere.
The NeHe tutorials are somewhat out of date; I’ve pointed people towards Learning Modern 3D Graphics Programming as a good source to get started, but there are many other “modern” OpenGL tutorials as well. It uses GLUT.