Creating C++ Application

A Unigine-based application can be implemented by means of C++ only, without using UnigineScript.

This article describes how to add logic to your project by using the C++ language. Code written in C++ is the same for all supported platforms: Windows, Linux and OS X. The difference is in the way of compiling the project.

See also

It is very easy to start your own C++ project by using UNIGINE SDK Browser:

1. Open the UNIGINE SDK Browser.
2. Go to the Projects tab and click CREATE NEW.

   

3. Specify the following parameters:

   

   • Project - specify the name of your project.
   • Project Path - specify the path to your project folder.
   • SDK - choose the Unigine SDK.
   • API - here choose C++ to start working with the C++ API.

     This parameter depends on a platform:

     • On Windows you can create C++ Visual Studio 2010 or C++ Visual Studio 2013 project.
     • On Linux you can create C++ GNU make project.
     • On OS X you can create C++ Xcode project or C++ GNU make project.
   • Architecture - specify the architecture of your target platform.
   • Precision - specify the precision. In this example we will use double precision.
   Notice

   Read more about these parameters in this article
4. Click the Create New Project button. The project will appear in the projects list.

   

You can run your project by clicking the Run button.

In this section we will add logic to the empty C++ application project.

The following example shows how to add a primitive box mesh to the world and rotate it.

1. In the Unigine SDK Browser, choose your C++ project and click the Edit Content button.

   

2. In the Unigine Editor that will be opened, add the primitive box as described in this section. Also name the primitive as in the example.

   

3. Save the World, by clicking File -> Save World on the Menu bar or press CTRL + S and close Unigine Editor.

4. If you created the C++ project for Visual Studio or Xcode:

   1. Choose your C++ project in the Unigine SDK Browser and click the Edit Code button to open the project in IDE.

      

   If you created C++ GNU make project:

   1. On the created C++ project, click on the Other Actions button and then the Open Folder button.

      Other Actions button	Open Folder button

   2. Go to the <YOUR PROJECT>\source\ folder and open the *.cpp file with any plain text editor.
5. Write (or copy) the following code in your project's .cpp file.
   Source code (C++)

   #include <UnigineEngine.h>
   #include <UnigineConsole.h>
   #include <UnigineGame.h>
   #include <UnigineLightWorld.h>
   #include <UnigineMaterials.h>
   #include <UniginePlayerDummy.h>
   #include <UnigineWorld.h>
   #include <UnigineObjectMeshStatic.h>
   #include <UnigineType.h>
   #include <UnigineEditor.h>
   
   /*
   */
   using namespace Unigine;
   
   NodePtr node;
   
   /*
   */
   void my_update() {
   	// get the frame duration
   	Game *game = Game::get();
   	float ifps = game->getIFps();
   
   	// set the angle of rotation
   	double angle = ifps * 90.0f;
   
   	// set the angle to the transformation matrix
   	dmat4 transform = node->getTransform();
   	transform.setRotateZ(angle);
   
   	// set new transformation to the node
   	node->setTransform(node->getTransform() * transform);
   }
   
   /*
   */
   void my_init() {
   	
   	// get the created box
   	Editor *editor = Editor::get();
   	node = editor->getNodeByName("box");
   }
   
   /*
   */
   void my_shutdown() {
   }
   
   /*
   */
   #ifdef _WIN32
   int wmain(int argc, wchar_t **argv) {
   #else
   int main(int argc, char **argv) {
   #endif
   	// initialize the engine
   	EnginePtr engine(UNIGINE_VERSION, argc, argv);
   
   	// load the world by using console
   	Console *console = Console::get();
   	console->run("world_load cpp_project/cpp_project");
   	console->flush();
   
   	// application initialization
   	my_init();
   
   	// enter the main loop
   	while (engine->isDone() == 0) {
   
   		// update in the main loop
   		engine->update();
   		// update the application
   		my_update();
   
   		// render in the main loop
   		engine->render();
   
   		// swap in the main loop
   		engine->swap();
   	}
   
   	// shutdown all custom resources
   	my_shutdown();
   
   	return 0;
   }

   Notice

   In the code above we load the cpp_project/cpp_project.cpp world script file. You should specify the name of your project's world script file.

6. If your use Visual Studio, do the following:

   1. Build your project by clicking Build -> Build Solution in Visual Studio or press F7.

      

   2. Start your project by clicking Debug -> Start in a proper mode in Visual Studio.

      

   If you created the Xcode project:

   1. Build your project by clicking Product -> Build in Xcode.

      

   2. Run the project by clicking Product -> Run.

      

   If you created GNU Make project:

   1. Execute the make command in the terminal to compile the application.
      Shell commands

      make

   2. Launch the application by using the run script.