For I have only found few explanations about how to use the GLUT library for OpenGL programming with Visual Studio 2008, I’ll give it a try myself:

1. Download the GLUT library from
2. Unzip it
3. glut.h – needs to be copied to the include/gl directory within the Microsoft SDK installation dir.
4. glut32.lib – at the same place, but in the lib subdir
5. glut32.dll – put this in the System32 dir.

Now, in Visual Studio create a new project as console application. Then, open the project properties, go to the Linker tab. Under Object/Library modules add

opengl32.lib glut32.lib glu32.lib

Finally, include <gl\glut.h></gl> in your source and you’re ready to go!