OpenGL is not a single API anymore. OpenGL has involved into a family of APIs, with OpenGL, OpenGL ES, and WebGL being closely related siblings that enable application developers to write and deploy graphics applications on a wide variety of platforms and operating systems. OpenGL has become an ecosystem; 3D graphics is truly everywhere now. OpenGL is the cross platform 3D API for desktop machines and work stations. OpenGL ES is the 3D API for mobile devices, like tablets and cell phones, and embedded platforms from settop boxes to cars. WebGL ties this all together by providing a pervasive 3D API in browsers, based on OpenGL ES, that run on any platform. It doesn’t stop with graphics. Combining the use of OpenGL with a compute API like OpenCL or CUDA enables the creation of amazing visual computing applications on the desktop.
It is Khronos’ job to provide APIs that serve their targeted developers, their markets, and their platforms, while encouraging silicon vendors to innovate underneath the API. Because the power consumption budget, hardware gate budget, and cost budget is larger for desktop GPUs than it is for mobile GPUs, the 3D API reflects this. Hence, OpenGL will generally be the first to expose leading edge functionality, on desktop platforms. The focus for OpenGL ES is to provide maximum functionality with the most optimal hardware and power budget for mobile and embedded devices. WebGL has a unifying focus; the goal for WebGL is to provide the same functionality everywhere, regardless of whether the underlying platform is capable of OpenGL 4.2 or OpenGL ES 2.0. This is fundamental to achieving the browser vision of “write once, deploy everywhere.” It is exciting to see WebGL provide access to the GPU, and therefore hardware accelerated 3D rendering, everywhere. The HTML5 standard provides a rich set of APIs to develop web applications. WebGL is leading the way to do so in a hardware accelerated way within HTML5. This will truly transform the type of web applications that will be available to us to enjoy, precisely becauseWebGL integrates into the HTML5 standard.
Get Real-World Insight from Experienced Professionals in the OpenGL Community
With OpenGL, OpenGL ES, and WebGL, real-time rendering is becoming available everywhere, from AAA games to mobile phones to web pages. Assembling contributions from experienced developers, vendors, researchers, and educators, OpenGL Insights presents real-world techniques for intermediate and advanced OpenGL, OpenGL ES, and WebGL developers.
Go Beyond the Basics
The book thoroughly covers a range of topics, including OpenGL 4.2 and recent extensions. It explains how to optimize for mobile devices, explores the design of WebGL libraries, and discusses OpenGL in the classroom. The contributors also examine asynchronous buffer and texture transfers, performance state tracking, and programmable vertex pulling.
Sharpen Your Skills
Focusing on current and emerging techniques for the OpenGL family of APIs, this book demonstrates the breadth and depth of OpenGL. Readers will gain practical skills to solve problems related to performance, rendering, profiling, framework design, and more.