WebGL is here to stay, as its unique architecture (accessing the user's GPU (for its shader, for example) and running on the client side) makes it ideal for embedded chips and mobile, as well as browsers. Google Maps runs in WebGL, and both Autodesk's early support with Maya WebGL interfaces, and now their cloud servers which port all their applications to the cloud via WebGL portend well for learning this challenging language.
If you're already an OpenGL Jock (both programs are from the Khronos Group, with a Mozilla pedigree), it will help a lot. Whenever an API accesses the GPU it doesn't bode well for user friendly programming! Since its beta debut in 2009 a lot of "easier" spins have appeared, most especially Three dot js. Both are obviously JavaScript API's, and there are about 20 others vying to help with the GPU coding. Since the technology doesn't require plug ins and bytecode, but uses the user's power, it is ideal for any device with a decent GPU platform, and nearly all browsers now support it natively (although IE's prior to Windows 8.1 do require a plug in).
Although building and animating with WebGL's ide is a pain, the nice thing is that it supports Maya, Blender, etc. and you can seamlessly import your creations. With Flash no longer being supported, and HTML5/Canvas skyrocketing, WebGL is becoming a very hot "go to" platform for 3D. The "feel" is a lot like OpenGL (and in fact you need it to code in WebGL) and the commands sport a blend of imperative and functional. The forums say there is a lot of support for concurrent/parallel built in and coming, but I am skeptical at this writing.
For a new book, the code is pretty clean, with only minor punctuation rather than syntax errors. Kindle works quite well with this title, and the code resources are simply awesome. If there was one reason to buy this book-- the snippets themselves are worth the investment. However, if you haven't yet decided if this is a language you want to learn, I wouldn't be quick to jump in. If you are already very good at JavaScript with SOME OpenGL (beginner to intermediate), this would be worth it for your career or art due to the "Flash vacuum" and architecture. Both mobile and other embedded is extremely supercharged right now, and if you want your games and apps to run on Android, this platform is not easy, but worth the work.
In addition to the GPU coding issues, this API does not support matrix math like OpenGL. This is thrown into your ballpark via the scripting space (which is why I keep harping on your JavaScript background). The authors cover this problem (as well as the GPU techniques) very thoroughly, and this is as good a reference as a learning tool. Adding a glMatrix type library helps the matrix issue a lot. On the positive side "mixing" coding with libraries (eg JavaScript libraries for the missing GPU links and matrices), HTML, page elements, and even Canvas, is fast and seamless once you gain the tricks from this text or web tutorials. If you've used Inka3D with Maya, you know how powerful and fast WebGL can be for executing even memory-hogging Maya graphics in a way that doesn't slow down even older browsers and will run on chips and smartphones. A Unity interface also is in the rumor mill at this writing.
Tough language (not that OpenGL is easy either!), outstanding text and reference, must have if you have or will commit to this API. I've read 4 books and numerous web tutorials on WebGL, and this is by far the most complete and real world of any of them-- I began using the code snippets immediately. I am a game developer and coder at Shader Joes, but work more on the streaming than HTML- Canvas side, but do work with Maya all day, and all of us have SOME web requests, right? Implementations I've seen are pretty awesome given the amount of RAM they take to develop initially in Blender, for example, then when exported don't cause the browser to snail out like some of my streams do!
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2013
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Top reviews from other countries
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- ShinigamiReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 16, 2013
WebGL is described in details
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in Canada on August 2, 2016
Excellent Introduction to WebGL
- CatfishReviewed in Australia on April 25, 2015
Bit verbose bit a very neat progression through the workings of WebGL.
