OpenGL is still very much alive and kicking, with the release today of OpenGL 4.6 to further improve the API.
From the press release:
OpenGL 4.6 has officially added these into the core spec:
They also released two new extensions:
They also released a set of extensions to allow OpenGL and OpenGL ES interoperability with Vulkan and Direct3D.
You can see the full OpenGL 4.6 specifications here.
NVIDIA have also just released a new beta 381.26.11 driver which pulls in support for OpenGL 4.6. They do note that they're mainly for developers looking to experiment with GL4.6. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
From the press release:
QuoteThe Khronos™ Group, an open consortium of leading hardware and software companies, announces from the SIGGRAPH 2017 Conference the immediate public availability of the OpenGL® 4.6 specification. OpenGL 4.6 integrates the functionality of numerous ARB and EXT extensions created by Khronos members AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA into core, including the capability to ingest SPIR-V™ shaders.
SPIR-V is a Khronos-defined standard intermediate language for parallel compute and graphics, which enables content creators to simplify their shader authoring and management pipelines while providing significant source shading language flexibility. OpenGL 4.6 adds support for ingesting SPIR-V shaders to the core specification, guaranteeing that SPIR-V shaders will be widely supported by OpenGL implementations.
OpenGL 4.6 has officially added these into the core spec:
- GL_ARB_gl_spirv and GL_ARB_spirv_extensions to standardize SPIR-V support for OpenGL
- GL_ARB_indirect_parameters and GL_ARB_shader_draw_parameters for reducing the CPU overhead associated with rendering batches of geometry
- GL_ARB_pipeline_statistics_query and GL_ARB_transform_feedback_overflow_query standardize OpenGL support for features available in Direct3D
- GL_ARB_texture_filter_anisotropic (based on GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic) brings previously IP encumbered functionality into OpenGL to improve the visual quality of textured scenes
- GL_ARB_polygon_offset_clamp (based on GL_EXT_polygon_offset_clamp) suppresses a common visual artifact known as a “light leak” associated with rendering shadows
- GL_ARB_shader_atomic_counter_ops and GL_ARB_shader_group_vote add shader intrinsics supported by all desktop vendors to improve functionality and performance
- GL_KHR_no_error reduces driver overhead by allowing the application to indicate that it expects error-free operation so errors need not be generated
They also released two new extensions:
- GL_KHR_parallel_shader_compile allows applications to launch multiple shader compile threads to improve shader compile throughput
- WGL_ARB_create_context_no_error and GXL_ARB_create_context_no_error allow no error contexts to be created with WGL or GLX that support the GL_KHR_no_error extension
They also released a set of extensions to allow OpenGL and OpenGL ES interoperability with Vulkan and Direct3D.
You can see the full OpenGL 4.6 specifications here.
NVIDIA have also just released a new beta 381.26.11 driver which pulls in support for OpenGL 4.6. They do note that they're mainly for developers looking to experiment with GL4.6. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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No. Khronos operate an IP framework, the essence of which is that Khronos members agree not to assert any patents they hold against other members implementing a Khronos specification.
So, Mesa project is not protected by that agreement? or X.org/Mesa are now an "adopter" member and that would suffice?
See https://www.x.org/wiki/BoardOfDirectors/MeetingSummaries/2016/11-10/
UPDATE: Looks like it can help: https://www.khronos.org/files/adopters_agreement.pdf
Last edited by Shmerl on 2 August 2017 at 9:53 pm UTC
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No. Khronos operate an IP framework, the essence of which is that Khronos members agree not to assert any patents they hold against other members implementing a Khronos specification.
So, Mesa project is not protected by that agreement? or X.org/Mesa are now a member?
Good question! That's why I say it is unclear.
I am not aware that X.org or Mesa have membership of Khronos, but individual open-source contributors may have day jobs in companies or universities that are Khronos members. I don't know if this gives any protection or not.
My feeling is that there is no intent to prevent open-source implementations; but that is not the same as giving legal permission.
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Good question! That's why I say it is unclear.
See update above. Looks like X.org foundation is working as a representative for Mesa in Khronos, so that should probably cover it.
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Good question! That's why I say it is unclear.
See update above. Looks like X.org foundation is working as a representative for Mesa in Khronos, so that should probably cover it.
OK, yes, assuming X.org sign ( or have already signed ) an adopter agreement, then it looks like they do have the protections of the IP framework.
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Comandante Ñoñardo Aug 6, 2017
I have a doubt.
If a game use OpenGL 4.5 and the Specs list of the GPU (GTx 750ti, for example) said OpenGL 4.4 , will the game run anyway or will have performance issues?
For example, in Windows, DX11 games can not run on an old DX10 card.
If a game use OpenGL 4.5 and the Specs list of the GPU (GTx 750ti, for example) said OpenGL 4.4 , will the game run anyway or will have performance issues?
For example, in Windows, DX11 games can not run on an old DX10 card.
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I have a doubt.There are two explanations for that 4.4 in the spec: Either NVIDIA doesn't update the spec every time a new OpenGL version is released (very likely), or the driver might emulate some features in software for the oldest hardware, but it's hard to say how much this would affect performance in the real world. According to NVIDIA's announcement seemingly all of their desktop chips from the 400 series onwards get OpenGL 4.6 support, so I think you're safe.
If a game use OpenGL 4.5 and the Specs list of the GPU (GTx 750ti, for example) said OpenGL 4.4 , will the game run anyway or will have performance issues?
For example, in Windows, DX11 games can not run on an old DX10 card.
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