As virtual reality approaches mainstream consumer use, a vibrant development ecosystem has emerged up to now few years. This hands-on guide takes you through VR development essentials for desktop, mobile, and browser-based applications. You’ll explore the three go-to platforms—OculusVR, Gear VR, and Cardboard VR—in addition to several VR development environments, programming tools, and techniques.

If you’re an experienced programmer conversant in mobile development, this book will will let you gain a working knowledge of VR development through clear and simple examples. If you create a whole application within the final chapter, you’ll have a jumpstart at the next major entertainment medium.

• Learn VR basics for UI design, 3D graphics, and stereo rendering
• Explore Unity3D, the current development choice among game engines
• Create native applications for desktop computers with the Oculus Rift
• Develop mobile applications for Samsung’s Gear VR with the Android and Oculus Mobile SDKs
• Build browser-based applications with the WebVR Javascript API and WebGL
• Create simple and inexpensive mobile apps for any smartphone with Google’s Cardboard VR
• Bring the whole thing together to build a 360-degree panoramic photo viewer