This page will explain how to use the WindowFramework class in C++ to open a blank window. First of all, we need to include the appropriate header files:

#include "pandaFramework.h"
#include "pandaSystem.h"

Second, we need to create an instance of the WindowFramework class and open the main int of course.

PandaFramework framework;
int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {

Now, we must open the framework, give the window a nice title and open the window:

framework.open_framework(argc, argv);
framework.set_window_title("Hello World!");
// Open it!
WindowFramework *window = framework.open_window();

Optionally, we can enable keyboard support, in case we want to check for keyboard presses, and we can enable the default camera trackball. Note that you also need to enable keyboard support to receive mouse button events (sic).

// Enable keyboard detection
window->enable_keyboard();
// Enable default camera movement
window->setup_trackball();

Now, we're going to check if the window has opened successfully. If so, the main loop must be called, using the function framework.main_loop(). This is equal to the run() function in Python.

if (window != (WindowFramework *)NULL) {
  nout << "Opened the window successfully!\n";
 
  // Put here your own code, such as the loading of your models
 
  framework.main_loop();
} else {
  nout << "Could not load the window!\n";
}

Afterwards, we need to close the framework:

framework.close_framework();
  return (0);
}

Now, compile and run your file and you have your own window opened!

For the lazy ones among us, here is the full code:

// Include all the stuff
#include "pandaFramework.h"
#include "pandaSystem.h"
 
// Init the PandaFramework class
PandaFramework framework;
 
int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
  // Open the framework
  framework.open_framework(argc, argv);
  // Set a nice title
  framework.set_window_title("Hello World!");
  // Open it!
  WindowFramework *window = framework.open_window();
 
  // Check whether the window is loaded correctly
  if (window != (WindowFramework *)NULL) {
    nout << "Opened the window successfully!\n";
 
    window->enable_keyboard(); // Enable keyboard detection
    window->setup_trackball(); // Enable default camera movement
 
    // Put here your own code, such as the loading of your models
 
    // Do the main loop
    framework.main_loop();
  } else {
    nout << "Could not load the window!\n";
  }
  // Close the framework
  framework.close_framework();
  return (0);
}

The WindowFramework class also provides all the basic things the python ShowBase / DirectStart equivalent would normally take care of:

const NodePath &get_render();
const NodePath &get_render_2d();
const NodePath &get_aspect_2d();
 
void set_wireframe(bool enable);
void set_texture(bool enable);
void set_two_sided(bool enable);
void set_one_sided_reverse(bool enable);
void set_lighting(bool enable);
 
const NodePath &get_camera_group();
 
INLINE int get_num_cameras() const;
INLINE Camera *get_camera(int n) const;
 
// WindowFramework also provides access to the GraphicsWindow.
// for example, to set the background color to black, you can do this:
window->get_graphics_window()->set_clear_color(Colorf(0,0,0,1));

It's very useful to study the file panda/src/framework/windowFramework.h, since you will need to use it often.