OpenGL GLSL - Text rendering query

[Chebmaster]

If you're only moving a teaspoon of dirt? use a teaspoon [...] Or something like that. Something something teaspoon.

Much better said that me. Thank you.
I'll add from myself that there is also GLES (an unruly, hard to tame beast) that does not have immediate mode functions but is required to support some platforms.

Me, I created a wrapper classfor small to medium loads. It hides actual implementation (may be glVertexAttribPointer() or may be older, more basic vertex arrays) and only use it to move my teaspoons.
Why? Because this way it lets you think of *all* your data as meshes. And contains much, much less API-related code to rehaul if you have to change your rendering mechanisms later.

glFinish()

I observed modern intel drivers flat out ignore this. But legacy drivers (say, Windows XP + Gf 5200 FX) *require* this called *after* SwapBuffers, otherwise you won'y get accurate measurement
(my engine uses this value for controlling adaptive detail, alongside the fps meter)

so you spend the minimum amount of time possible on the blocking swap call.

So, rendering, *then* sh-- stuff like backround uploading of higher LODs and only then SwapBuffers...? That's... such a good idea. Why am I doing it backwards?

You can use GL timers to get the 'server' side timing,

Me, I usually get "yer ghetto intel video doesn't know that trick" and stop bothering

[paul_nicholls]

Me, I usually get "yer ghetto intel video doesn't know that trick" and stop bothering

hahah! That's gold

[laggyluk]

On the topic, using shaders: if you are drawing text on background you don't need to use transparency, just lerp between font and background color based on font alpha.

I don't know anything about OpenGL 2.0 because I stared with 3.0 using tutorials in C++. You don't really need to know much about C++ to apply this to pascal as OpenGL API calls stay the same. I guess that's why no one really bothers to make tutorials in Pascal

Learned mainly from this one with zero prior OpenGL knowledge and managed to pull off deferred renderer with SSAO and stuff: http://ogldev.atspace.co.uk/

[AthenaOfDelphi]

On the topic, using shaders: if you are drawing text on background you don't need to use transparency, just lerp between font and background color based on font alpha.

I don't know anything about OpenGL 2.0 because I stared with 3.0 using tutorials in C++. You don't really need to know much about C++ to apply this to pascal as OpenGL API calls stay the same. I guess that's why no one really bothers to make tutorials in Pascal

Learned mainly from this one with zero prior OpenGL knowledge and managed to pull off deferred renderer with SSAO and stuff: http://ogldev.atspace.co.uk/

Thanks for that, I'll take a look. For the time being, my approach is working, allowing me to focus on the more interesting elements of the game I'm trying to write

[SilverWarior]

Hey AthenaOfDelphi are you perhaps panning in participating in Lazarus Game Contest 2018? Based on this thread I'm assuming you plan on having a retro look in your game. Right?

[AthenaOfDelphi]

No, I'm not having a go at a competition... I did look at it, but if I recall correctly, you have to release sources... I'd like to make money from this endeavour, so it's closed source all the way for me right now

And yes, it is due to have a retro look... mainly text based UI for the entire game.

[SilverWarior]

No, I'm not having a go at a competition... I did look at it, but if I recall correctly, you have to release sources... I'd like to make money from this endeavour, so it's closed source all the way for me right now

That is understandable. The same reason is dissuading me from entering the mentioned competition.

And yes, it is due to have a retro look... mainly text based UI for the entire game.

Care to share more info on your game idea?