Silicon Graphics has paved the way for OpenGL API hardware acceleration on Linux and other platforms based on the UNIX operating system by releasing the GLX source code into the Open Source community. This positive move expands the marketplace for 3D graphics and visualisation and ensures OpenGL as its foundation.
"This technology frees both hardware and software developers to be able to use a single graphics API across all computing systems," says Vaughan Wooler, MD of Silicon Graphics sub-Saharan Africa. "By having the GLX source code freely available on the Internet and working directly with the open source community, developers can leverage OpenGL as the enabling foundation for 3D acceleration on all flavours of UNIX and Linux."
GLX is a software layer used for integrating OpenGL and Xfree86, a freely re-distributable implementation of the X Window System, which runs on Linux and Unix-like operating systems, allowing OpenGL to render 3D graphics into an X window. In addition, it operates seamlessly over networks, displaying OpenGL content to remote computers.
Silicon Graphics is working with Red Hat Software and Precision Insight to enhance the GLX source code for use with Xfree86. Also, a software framework for building accelerated 3D drivers from which Xfree86 developers and hardware vendors can build drivers for specific graphics boards is being created by Precision Insight.
OpenGL encourages innovation by bringing together a broad set of rendering, texture mapping, special effects and other powerful visualisation functions and providing a graphics pipeline that allows open access to graphics hardware acceleration. It is now available on every major computer platform including IRIX, Solaris, HP/UX, Digital UNIX, AIX, BeOS, MicrosoftWindows NT, Windows 98 and MacOS.
@EditorNote = Silicon Graphics
Silicon Graphics Inc. is the leading supplier of high performance visual and enterprise computing systems. The company`s products range from low-end desktop workstations to servers and high-end Cray supercomputers. Silicon Graphics also markets MIPS` microprocessor designs, Alias/wavefront entertainment software and other software products. The company`s key markets include the world wide web, government, commercial, industrial and entertainment sectors. Silicon Graphics and its subsidiaries have offices throughout the world and headquarters in Mountain View, California.
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