Related toolkits and APIs

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Beginner frameworks

One-shot downloads that contain multiple tools, so as to make it easier for the user to get started with OpenGL.

Unofficial OpenGL SDK
A collection of several cross-platform libraries, using a common build system to simplify OpenGL development. It distributes several easy-to-use libraries for GL initialization. It also has a library for OpenGL loading, image loading, and more.
Graphics And Physics Framework
German OpenGL based graphics And physics framework.

OpenGL initialization

Creating an OpenGL context usually requires writing platform-specific code to create a window. It also requires loading OpenGL functions manually from that context. These tools simplify these tasks greatly, in most cases providing cross-platform solutions.

Context/Window Toolkits







  • FLTK : A small widget library.
  • wxWidgets: A cross-platform widget toolkit.

OpenGL loading libraries

OpenGL loading libraries simplifies the work needed to initialize OpenGL functions.

An OpenGL loading library for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, FreeBSD, Irix, and Solaris.
An OpenGL loading library for Windows, Linux and FreeBSD. Possibly defunct.
An OpenGL loading library, focusing on OpenGL3/4 Core context loading for Windows, Linux and FreeBSD.


There are many utilities that, while they don't rely on OpenGL very much, are useful in making OpenGL applications.

Image and Texture Libraries


Math Libraries


Toolkits top on OpenGL

Many programming interfaces are layered on top of OpenGL, providing rich and varied functionality. Not all can interoperate.

Scene graphs

A scene graph is a layer on top of OpenGL that manages objects, their transforms in the world, and various other concepts.

Open Scene Graph 

Graphics engine

A graphics engine is higher level than a scene graph, as it manages all aspects of rendering. Shaders, image resource management, etc.

Crystal Space

Game engines/toolkits

Game engines are even higher level. They provide not only a graphics engine, but all of the ancillary structures needed to make a game. Entity concepts, physics control, etc.

A C++ 3D game engine with Python bindings.
Game engine based on Open Scene Graph and ODE.


An open-source cross-platform framework using OpenGL.

Sound or Audio Libraries

OpenAL Soft
OpenAL Software Renderer.
OpenAL Audio Framework
OpenAL based Audio Framework.