Slashdot Mirror
Updated XFree86-3D FAQ
anonymous porcupine writes "From the XFree86-3D I just
got word of an updated version of the
FAQ
which details the current state of hardware accelerated 3D
rendering in Linux. Gives a bit of history, an update
regarding the state of affairs, and
information on where to find out more about the
current projects. "
The problem for a lot of people who care about 3D rendering is that current speeds on Linux (and Intel hardware in general) just aren't up to snuff. Displaying complex molecules and trying to rotate them just doesn't do what you need.
More and more "serious" applications depend on 3D rendering at high speeds. We need to know how close hardware acceleration is to being a reality on Linux so we can plan on whether or not to use it as platform either for development or deployment of product.
But I get paid to write closed-source software so my views may be different from yours.
Okay, I was working the GDC (Game Developers Conference) last week, and figured it would be a good time to get a status report on Linux support from various hardware vendors that had booths on the expo floor.
At the NVidia booth, I talked to one guy who said that they do not want to support Linux, but that they would release the specs under NDA and that supposedly "some people were working on it." He said that the person over there in the Hawaiian shirt could give me more key information. So I trundle over to that guy, and ask him what's up, and he says that a) they have NO intention to do any support for Linux internally, and b) they have NO intention of releasing their specs, even under NDA , because they need to protect their hardware API which is valuable "intellectual property," and other bullshit like that. He also completely refuted the other guy's claim that there were "people" currently working on Linux 3D drivers. He seemed annoyed and really wanted to brush me off, even though I was just politely inquiring.
Talking with some other random people at the conference, not related to NVidia, THEY said that NVidia couldn't release any specs or anything because of the lawsuits against them. 3DFx is one of the folks with a lawsuit against NVidia, I think. So, if that's the case, why not just say that and I could leave without feeling sort of betrayed?
I also talked to ATI, with their Advanced Nipple Rendering Engine, and they said that they were seriously considering Linux support, whatever that means. I talked with him a bit, explaining how they didn't have to release the source for their 3D drivers (they were under the impression they had to) and also how if they were to be willing to release the specs under NDA, they could basically get people to do their work writing the drivers for them for free. I left ATI feeling very positive about their possible future linux support, but it might have been just smooth-talking.
Anyway, that was the extent of the information I gathered, straight from their mouths to you. Of course it's all very non-official, but it's probably more informed than your average press release.
Run a pencil-and-paper RPG campaign with your far-off friends: Gametable!
As a developer of an GPL'd OpenGL app for Linux,
I really appreciate someone taking the effort to
put this faq together.
Integration of Hardware Acceleration/3D rendering
and X is one of Linux's rougher edges. Brian's
hack to allow Voodoo-based 3d cards to peform
in-window rendering is neat, but I don't think it
is a permanent 3D solution for Linux/XFree86.
http://129.21.135.204/mirrore d/XFree86-3D-status.html
Should be nice and quick. (not that the article is anything really really
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The art of flying is throwing yourself at the ground...
Why does there have to be a FAQ on this.. 3d rendering is 3d rendering...
I ate my tag line.
-=Ellis (D)25=-
From the FAQ:
OpenGL® is a registered trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc., who quite reasonably only licence the name to be used by
products which have been tested to comply with the specification. Since testing costs money, there are no free licenced versions
of OpenGL.
Licencing is, especially for companies wanting to use Linux, a big issue. There are quite a few projects that could get seriously underway if there was a fund or what ever that could pay some of these fees.
It would greatly enhance the acceptability for larger institutions.
Maybe in this case it might get some game-writers to get into Linux games. I don't care much for games, put there seem to be an awful lot of people who do.
Of course, how great the effect will be will depend partly on how well Linux Q3A sells. I think our duty is clear. :)
But there doesn't seem to be anything going on. Are Nvidia being uncooperative? Do we ned a mini-campaign to get their attention? They are #2 behind 3Dfx in the windows world. Apparently their strategy is to prevent any possible sales to Linux users. ;-)