title: How to build or install freeglut on a windows machine
body: <p>I downloaded <a href="http://freeglut.sourceforge.net/" rel="nofollow">freeglut</a>.  I'm reading the installation <a href="http://freeglut.sourceforge.net/docs/install.php" rel="nofollow">instructions</a>.  I extracted all the files.  I see a file called configure (and configure.ac).  I opened visual studio command prompt and changed the directory to </p>
  
  <p><code>C:\DevStuff\OpenGL\freeglut-2.8.0</code></p>
  
  <p>The next step is to <strong>configure the packages</strong></p>
  
  <p><code>./configure</code></p>
  
  <p>This looks like a Linux command. How am I supposed to complete this kind of a build on a windows 7 machine?  I have visual studio 2010 ultimate ed.</p>
  
  <p><strong>UPDATE</strong></p>
  
  <p>I found the VS2010 directory and successfully performed a build.  I need <code>freeglut_static.lib</code>, which did not come out of this build.  The output directory</p>
  
  <p><code>..\..\lib\x86\Debug</code> contains only one lib file, freeglut.lib.</p>
  
  <p>I suspect I need the makefile, but I really don't know.  This lib is required for OpenGL Superbible <a href="http://www.starstonesoftware.com/OpenGL/fourthEdition.htm" rel="nofollow">sample projects</a>.  In the sample projects when I try to run it a compilation error:</p>
  
  <pre><code>error LNK1181: cannot open input file 'freeglut_static.lib' C:\DevStuff\OpenGL\SB-WinwBin\SuperBible4\examples\projects\microsoft\chapt01\block\LINK    block
  </code></pre>