WebGL: Up and Running: Building 3D Graphics for the Web

by Tony Parisi

Get a quick introduction to WebGL, the new standard for 3D rendering on the Web and a member of HTML5’s family of technologies. With this hands-on guide, you’ll learn essential WebGL development and production concepts, using the JavaScript 3D engine Three.js. At the end of the book, you’ll put everything together and build a full 3D application with WebGL.

You don’t have to be a game development wizard or have 3D graphics experience to get started. If you use HTML, CSS, and JavaScript—and have familiarity with JQuery and Ajax—this book will help you gain a working knowledge of WebGL through clear and simple examples.

Understand core 3D graphics concepts and how to implement them in WebGLCreate WebGL sample pages as you learn, and build a racing game application in the final chapterGet to know the Three.js open source library in detailDevelop working knowledge of graphics rendering, texturing, animation, interaction, and behaviorsSeamlessly integrate 3D graphics with other content on the pageLearn the tools, file formats, and techniques for developing robust and secure applications in a production environment" Up and Running is an ideal introduction to the world of 3D programming on the web. It’s well-written, clear, and fun. I wish it had been around when I started learning!" —Giles Thomas

Genres: Programming, Computer Science

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Bryan Ma · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was about general capacities of WebGL filtered through deprecated functionality of three.js filtered through an odd wrapper of three.js in the author's sim.js framework. That said, I probably read this 5 years late. It did a good job of walking through what is possible, but it's probably better to thoroughly read the three.js resources themselves at this point.

[Ahmed Sayed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Old book for these days, the syntax of code is changed form 2012. I would to highlight that the basic of 3D is explained. I would recommend it if you beginner but if you have other modern choice go for it

[Sriram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much emphasis on three.js

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A broad rather than deep book, it's meant for a beginner both to computer graphics and to WebGL.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was the Sim.JS framework the author came up with to simplify Three.js development. Besides being oddly class-based, I found that it obscured important details that beginners should be learning by rote practice. I used it for a few projects and then abandoned it.

[Miko Chang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear explanation and step-by-step instructions in using WebGL for web page. Source codes are updated and available in Github. Good to know some basic HTML, CSS before reading.