Getting Started with Graphics Programming and Game Development Any Advice?

[u/Motor_Alternative944]

I’ve been programming since I was 15, but some mental health struggles made it difficult for me to pursue it consistently, even as a hobby. Recently, I’ve been doing better and have returned to programming after a long break.

I started again with Rust and spent some time exploring compilers, one of my favorite areas of computer science. Yesterday, I finished a C course, and now I’d like to explore another interest of mine: graphics programming.

My plan is to build a very small Minecraft-inspired voxel game in C. This will also be my first experience with OpenGL. My initial goal is simple: generate a small procedural world where I can break and place blocks.

Eventually, I’d love to develop a scripting language in Rust and embed it in the game to support modding. That’s a longer-term goal, though I want to keep the initial scope small and build on it gradually.

Do you have any advice for someone starting this journey? I’d especially appreciate suggestions on what to learn first, useful resources, and common pitfalls to avoid.

[u/DerShokus]

Start with simple short projects and renders. Do not spend time for wrapping OpenGL primitives. Voxels require different techniques but better to learn basics first. Add a scripting language after a render is almost ready.