First you need to install development packages: https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/OpenGL_Programming/Installation/Linux https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/OpenGL_Programming/Installation/Windows # for MinGW or MSys To compile an example, go to its directory and just type: cd tut01/ make It will create an executable (such as 'triangle', 'cube' or 'teapot') that you can run: ./triangle You can compile all examples in one go by calling "make" in the top level directory.