Textbook in PDF format This updated edition is designed primarily as a textbook for a typical Computer Science undergraduate course in modern shader-based OpenGL 3D graphics programming. However, we have also endeavored to create a text that could be used to teach oneself, without an accompanying course. With both of those aims in mind, we have tried to explain things as clearly and as simply as we can. All of the programming examples are stripped down and simplified as much as possible, but they are still complete, so the reader may run them all as presented. One of the things we hope is unique about this book is that we have strived to make it accessible to a beginner – that is, someone new to 3D graphics programming. While there is by no means a lack of information available on the topic—quite the contrary—many students are initially overwhelmed. This text is our attempt to write the book we wish we had had when we were starting out, with step-by-step explanations of the basics, progressing in an organized manner up through advanced topics. We considered titling the book “shader programming made easy”; however, we don’t think that there really is any way of making shader programming “easy.” We hope that we have come close. This book teaches OpenGL programming in Java, using JOGL—a Java “wrapper” for OpenGL’s native C calls. There are several advantages to learning graphics programming in Java rather than in C: • It is more convenient for students at schools that conduct most of their curriculum in Java • Installation and setup is easier in Java than for C or C++ • Java’s I/O, window, and event handling are arguably cleaner than in C • Java’s excellent support for object-oriented design patterns can foster good design • JOGL includes some very nice tools, such as for loading textures, animation loops, etc. It is worth mentioning that there do exist other Java bindings for OpenGL. One that has become very popular is Lightweight Java Game Library, or LWJGL. Like JOGL, LWJGL also offers bindings for OpenAL and OpenCL. This textbook focuses only on JOGL. Intended Audience: This book is targeted at students of Computer Science. This could mean undergraduates pursuing a BS degree, but it could also mean anyone who studies Computer Science. As such, we are assuming that the reader has at least a solid background in object-oriented programming, at the level of someone who is, say, a Computer Science major at the junior or senior level