FreeGLUT binaries for win32 systems

[Chris Marshall-2]

For portability reasons, we've just released a version of
the Perl Data Language that uses FreeGLUT to provide the
GUI interface for our 3D graphics display routines.

FreeGLUT has been successful in that now we have OpenGL
based 3D graphics on PC and Mac OS X platforms in addition
to the original many flavors of unix+X11+GLX.

The problem that has arisen is that there is no real
package manager for MS Windows systems.  The result
is that PDL users on windows must install a full C
development environment, then build their own copy
of the FreeGLUT library, install it correctly, and then,
if all that worked, they can build PDL from scratch.

As a temporary work around, we've included the win32 dll
and include files for windows systems without FreeGLUT
(all of them unless the user has installed them themselves).
This works for win32 XP, 2000, Vista,.. but breaks for x64
versions.  It also has the problem of including a binary
library within a source code distribution.

I was thinking we could distribute the needed dlls from
our sourceforge web site, but then I realized that it
would make more sense for FreeGLUT to distribute the same
from their own sourceforge web site.

I don't know what the original issues around making binary
installs available for windows were but I would like to
open up the discussion again.  For example, I was thinking
that now that FreeGLUT is more cross-platform than its X11
origins, it might make sense to reconsider.  (And, yes,
I understand that this is actually fixing a problem with
windows itself as far as installation of external packages.
However, with 90% of the computers out there running
windows, it seems like cutting off my nose to spite my
face to not provide a way forward---sans hassle---for win32
folks)

I tried to look up the previous discussion but I could
not find any mailing list archives that I could search.

Looking forward to hearing back with your thoughts,
Chris Marshall

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[John F. Fay]

Chris,

         If I remember correctly, the original issue was one of
distributing binaries as part of a source distribution.  We didn't
particularly want to do that.  Instead we put something in the Readme
file (again if I remember correctly) telling people who want binaries
to contact me.  Over the years I have had a few requests for
binaries, but not very many.

         I'm certainly willing to reconsider but I am not the person
in charge.  I'm just Johnny-on-the-spot.

                 - John



At 01:04 PM 10/24/2009, you wrote:

>For portability reasons, we've just released a version of
>the Perl Data Language that uses FreeGLUT to provide the
>GUI interface for our 3D graphics display routines.
>
>FreeGLUT has been successful in that now we have OpenGL
>based 3D graphics on PC and Mac OS X platforms in addition
>to the original many flavors of unix+X11+GLX.
>
>The problem that has arisen is that there is no real
>package manager for MS Windows systems.  The result
>is that PDL users on windows must install a full C
>development environment, then build their own copy
>of the FreeGLUT library, install it correctly, and then,
>if all that worked, they can build PDL from scratch.
>
>As a temporary work around, we've included the win32 dll
>and include files for windows systems without FreeGLUT
>(all of them unless the user has installed them themselves).
>This works for win32 XP, 2000, Vista,.. but breaks for x64
>versions.  It also has the problem of including a binary
>library within a source code distribution.
>
>I was thinking we could distribute the needed dlls from
>our sourceforge web site, but then I realized that it
>would make more sense for FreeGLUT to distribute the same
>from their own sourceforge web site.
>
>I don't know what the original issues around making binary
>installs available for windows were but I would like to
>open up the discussion again.  For example, I was thinking
>that now that FreeGLUT is more cross-platform than its X11
>origins, it might make sense to reconsider.  (And, yes,
>I understand that this is actually fixing a problem with
>windows itself as far as installation of external packages.
>However, with 90% of the computers out there running
>windows, it seems like cutting off my nose to spite my
>face to not provide a way forward---sans hassle---for win32
>folks)
>
>I tried to look up the previous discussion but I could
>not find any mailing list archives that I could search.
>
>Looking forward to hearing back with your thoughts,
>Chris Marshall
>
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>Come build with us! The BlackBerry(R) Developer Conference in SF, CA
>is the only developer event you need to attend this year. Jumpstart your
>developing skills, take BlackBerry mobile applications to market and stay
>ahead of the curve. Join us from November 9 - 12, 2009. Register now!
>http://p.sf.net/sfu/devconference
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[Chris Marshall-2]

John,

Thanks for the response.  Who *is* the person(s)
in charge?  I would like to follow up on this.

Distributing binaries as part of a source distribution
is exactly the issue we are facing with Perl OpenGL and
PDL.  We would like to us FreeGLUT+OpenGL as a generic
framework for cross-platform graphics for users and not
just computer gurus, programmers, and the like.

Every platform except windows provides a way for
someone to get a needed library dependency (e.g.
FreeGLUT) installed on their systems without building
from scratch except windows.  Given that lack, the
simplest option seemed to be to make available pre-built
FreeGLUT dlls for windows.

We're currently distributing the win32 dll with the
perl OpenGL module as an ugly work around since now
we've put a binary distribution inside a perl source
distribution.

Now that the first release is out, we would like to
address the issues of FreeGLUT libraries for other
windows platforms (64bit) and getting the binary out
of the OpenGL source distribution.

The next thought was putting the needed DLLs up on
the PDL sourceforge site.  At which time, I realized
that the best place on sourceforge to have the DLLs
for windows available for download would be on the
FreeGLUT sourceforge project download site.

I look forward to hearing from you.  In the meantime
I plan to investigate what would make the most sense
as far as a distribution scheme.  I'm leaning towards
a distribution of the DLL+headers and some sort of
checksum at first.

Regards,
Chris




John F. Fay wrote:

>
>          If I remember correctly, the original issue was one of
> distributing binaries as part of a source distribution.  We didn't
> particularly want to do that.  Instead we put something in the Readme
> file (again if I remember correctly) telling people who want binaries
> to contact me.  Over the years I have had a few requests for
> binaries, but not very many.
>
>          I'm certainly willing to reconsider but I am not the person
> in charge.  I'm just Johnny-on-the-spot.
>
>                  - John
>
>
>
> At 01:04 PM 10/24/2009, you wrote:
>
>> For portability reasons, we've just released a version of
>> the Perl Data Language that uses FreeGLUT to provide the
>> GUI interface for our 3D graphics display routines.
>>
>> FreeGLUT has been successful in that now we have OpenGL
>> based 3D graphics on PC and Mac OS X platforms in addition
>> to the original many flavors of unix+X11+GLX.

 >> ...

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[John F. Fay]

Chris,

         The person in charge is Steve Baker, who is currently an
absentee landlord as he is working 16-hour days at his day job.  I'll
be lucky to get his attention long enough to get the next release out the door.

         Unfortunately I don't have the energy at the moment to give
your e-mail the attention it deserves.  What you are suggesting seems
to be rather a major change and I would rather not try to tackle it
before releasing 2.6.0.  I will also try not to wait another two and
a half years before the next release.

                 - John

At 08:41 AM 11/8/2009, you wrote:

>John,
>
>Thanks for the response.  Who *is* the person(s)
>in charge?  I would like to follow up on this.
>
>Distributing binaries as part of a source distribution
>is exactly the issue we are facing with Perl OpenGL and
>PDL.  We would like to us FreeGLUT+OpenGL as a generic
>framework for cross-platform graphics for users and not
>just computer gurus, programmers, and the like.
>
>Every platform except windows provides a way for
>someone to get a needed library dependency (e.g.
>FreeGLUT) installed on their systems without building
>from scratch except windows.  Given that lack, the
>simplest option seemed to be to make available pre-built
>FreeGLUT dlls for windows.
>
>We're currently distributing the win32 dll with the
>perl OpenGL module as an ugly work around since now
>we've put a binary distribution inside a perl source
>distribution.
>
>Now that the first release is out, we would like to
>address the issues of FreeGLUT libraries for other
>windows platforms (64bit) and getting the binary out
>of the OpenGL source distribution.
>
>The next thought was putting the needed DLLs up on
>the PDL sourceforge site.  At which time, I realized
>that the best place on sourceforge to have the DLLs
>for windows available for download would be on the
>FreeGLUT sourceforge project download site.
>
>I look forward to hearing from you.  In the meantime
>I plan to investigate what would make the most sense
>as far as a distribution scheme.  I'm leaning towards
>a distribution of the DLL+headers and some sort of
>checksum at first.
>
>Regards,
>Chris
>
>
>
>
>John F. Fay wrote:
> >
> >          If I remember correctly, the original issue was one of
> > distributing binaries as part of a source distribution.  We didn't
> > particularly want to do that.  Instead we put something in the Readme
> > file (again if I remember correctly) telling people who want binaries
> > to contact me.  Over the years I have had a few requests for
> > binaries, but not very many.
> >
> >          I'm certainly willing to reconsider but I am not the person
> > in charge.  I'm just Johnny-on-the-spot.
> >
> >                  - John
> >
> >
> >
> > At 01:04 PM 10/24/2009, you wrote:
> >
> >> For portability reasons, we've just released a version of
> >> the Perl Data Language that uses FreeGLUT to provide the
> >> GUI interface for our 3D graphics display routines.
> >>
> >> FreeGLUT has been successful in that now we have OpenGL
> >> based 3D graphics on PC and Mac OS X platforms in addition
> >> to the original many flavors of unix+X11+GLX.
>  >> ...
>
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