Function Naming Conventions

Function Naming Conventions

This guide refers to a group of similarly named OpenGL functions by a single name, using an asterisk to indicate all the functions whose names start the same way. For instance, glVertex*() refers to all functions whose names begin with "glVertex": glVertex2s(), glVertex3dv(), glVertex4fv(), and so on.

Naming conventions for X-related functions can be confusing, as they depend largely on capitalization to differentiate between groups of functions. For systems on which both OpenGL and IRIS GL are available, the issue is further complicated by the similarity in function names. Here's a quick guide to old and new function names:

GLX*(): IRIS GL mixed-model support
Glx*(): IRIS GL support for IRIS IM
glX*(): OpenGL support for X
GLw*(): OpenGL support for IRIS IM

Note that the (OpenGL) glX*() routines are collectively referred to as "GLX"; that term was previously used to refer to the (IRIS GL) GLX*() routines. Note, too, that GLXgetconfig() (an IRIS GL mixed-model routine) is not the same function as glXGetConfig() (a GLX routine). On systems with both IRIS GL and OpenGL, the command

IRIS% man glxgetconfig

displays both reference pages, one following the other.