OpenGL handles the drawing of models in a window but it does not provide the window, or handle events; that is why SDL is required. The prime purpose of this tutorial is to set up the SDL window and events mechanism. It also sets up the OpenGL environment that uses the window, the game loop, and a rotating cube.

The impetus was and still is to build a game. Originally I looked into existing game engines, but it became rapidly apparent the amount of learning required to use them effectively was hardly going to be less than starting from scratch from an OpenGL and SDL base. Furthermore, the use of shaders should be primary and understanding them crucial. I have been creating tutorials as the game engine progresses and offer them here, partly because the writing of them helps me figure stuff out, partly because I have always agreed with NEHE philosophy on matter of making information available, and partly because I have a tendency to lose stuff and if the information is online I can always repatriate it. I hope they are helpful.