What does everyone think of 2.0?

[ToolChest]

I was just wondering how everyone feels about the 2.0 proposal. I looked over the spec and the only complaint I have is that the spec makes me want to re-implement half of my game engine. I see allot of flexibility in the new architecture, however my experience is limited to game development and I was wondering how the rest of the community is reacting.

Thanks...

John.

[MikeC]

I like it very much, on the whole. I would like to see a basic framework for extending vertex programs to one-in-many-out scenarios, and I still can't see how to get displacement mapping within ten miles of that pipeline, but generally I think they're making all the right choices.

One thing that does bother me is that GL2 will be SOOOO far removed from 1.x. Realistically, I can't see any cards fully supporting GL2 in hardware for a couple more generations, and by that time there'll be a huge installed base who won't be too keen on throwing out that GF4 they just bought. Trouble is, the APIs are so different that supporting both could end up requiring two engines and two sets of art. For the gaming market at least I guess this'll end up making the highend/lowend divide even wider, to the point where effectively different platforms.

[ToolChest]

Hey I know this is not the place but there is an interesting thread in the Advanced Coding board. Here is the link every one is talking about...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/54/23708.html

[Lucretia]

I do like the ideas currently in the 2.0 spec. But only one problem is the name "shader," as it has already been pointed out on a number of occasions, it should be "program."

Just a something I thought needed pointing out ;-)

Also, I'd like to know:

1) The estimated timescale of a 2.0 release?
2) When the OSS OpenGL SI is going to be updated?
3) Is Brian Paul getting ready for a new version of Mesa? BTW, wasn't Mesa & OpenGL SI going to be combined in the future as a replacement for the SGI SI?

Thanks,
Luke.

[Lev]

I also like "vertex program" more, because it actually more precise, but I guess they have chosen "shader" for marketing reasons.

-Lev

[ToolChest]

Just out of curiosity what are you guys using OpenGL for? I was just wondering how much of the computer industry uses OpenGL? For example, I don’t use OpenGL at my job, but I’ve been working on a game engine at home in my spare time for a few years now. I’ve spent a lot of time on OpenGL.org, but I’ve only just started reading the posts and I’ve noticed that a lot of people post very regularly. Are all these people using OpenGL at work or at home, for game development or graphic design, or just for fun?

John.

[Coconut]

Originally posted by john_at_kbs_is:
Just out of curiosity what are you guys using OpenGL for? I was just wondering how much of the computer industry uses OpenGL? For example, I don’t use OpenGL at my job, but I’ve been working on a game engine at home in my spare time for a few years now. I’ve spent a lot of time on OpenGL.org, but I’ve only just started reading the posts and I’ve noticed that a lot of people post very regularly. Are all these people using OpenGL at work or at home, for game development or graphic design, or just for fun?

John.

I would imagine most poeple reply in the advanced developer forum are developing software relating to OpenGL.
A lot of people posting questions in beginner forum are doing it for fun, or for a school project.
Keep in mind almost all professional 3D applications are written in OpenGL, that means a lot of people are making their livings by writting applications with OpenGL.

[Lucretia]

Originally posted by john_at_kbs_is:
Just out of curiosity what are you guys using OpenGL for? I was just wondering how much of the computer industry uses OpenGL? For example, I don’t use OpenGL at my job, but I’ve been working on a game engine at home in my spare time for a few years now. I’ve spent a lot of time on OpenGL.org, but I’ve only just started reading the posts and I’ve noticed that a lot of people post very regularly. Are all these people using OpenGL at work or at home, for game development or graphic design, or just for fun?

John.

I developed a GL driver for a 3D engine for work - they weren't too bothered, but I wanted to do it for cross platform reasons. Plus it made the engine more portable - cuz it wasn't at the time

Luke.

P.S: My 3D knowledge is next to nothing and my GL knowledge is below what I'd like it to be. How amusing is that?

[gaby]

I think that OGL2 specs proposal is really interesting but very complicate for every poeple that don't have the knowledge of the 3dlabs team members !
For me, the best API is an API that permit to do simplest thinks in the most immediate manner, and that offer more than one level of use. So, simplify, unify, make 2 or 3 levels of use with same API (no 2 or 3 API), make a more generic methods for basics features, integrate more processing between the OGL2 API and the drivers and all will be the best for me !

Gaby

[Lucretia]

Originally posted by gaby:
I think that OGL2 specs proposal is really interesting but very complicate for every poeple that don't have the knowledge of the 3dlabs team members !
For me, the best API is an API that permit to do simplest thinks in the most immediate manner, and that offer more than one level of use. So, simplify, unify, make 2 or 3 levels of use with same API (no 2 or 3 API), make a more generic methods for basics features, integrate more processing between the OGL2 API and the drivers and all will be the best for me !

Gaby

Well, this is what they are suggesting. An intermediate step; OpenGL 2.0 which includes the new programmable API's.

The next release would be pure OpenGL 2.0 which is just the programmable API's really.

From what I've seen, it looks like a good spec for the next gen GL.

I'm looking forward to playing with it.

Luke.