Mail Archives: djgpp/1999/07/07/07:38:21
Steven Taylor writes:
> I've been to the MESA site, and nowhere does it actually say what MESA is.
From the very top of the page at http://www.mesa3d.org:
"Mesa is a 3-D graphics library ..."
If you meant that you want more detailed information about what kind
of 3d graphics routines it provides, you could try looking at
http://www.mesa3d.org/doc.html, or downloading it to see for yourself.
> Please, don't answer me with, "MESA is an alternative to OpenGL" because I
> know Sweet Fanny Adams about OpenGL.
From http://www.opengl.org/About/FAQs.html#whatis:
What is the OpenGL API?
OpenGL is the most widely adopted 3D graphics API in the
industry, bringing thousands of applications to a wide
variety of computer platforms. The API is not tied to any
one operating system and reflects the thinking and talents
of software developers from diverse graphics backgrounds.
As a highly versatile 2D and 3D graphics API, OpenGL enables
developers of software for PC, workstation and
supercomputing hardware to create high-performance, visually
compelling graphics software applications.
OpenGL is a rendering only, vendor neutral API providing 2D
and 3D graphics functions, including modelling,
transformations, color, lighting, smooth shading, as well
as advanced features like texture mapping, NURBS, fog, alpha
blending and motion blur. OpenGL works in both immediate and
retained (display list) graphics modes.
OpenGL is window system and operating system independent.
OpenGL has been integrated with Windows NT, Windows 95 and
with the X Window System under UNIX. Also, OpenGL is network
transparent. A defined common extension to the X Window
System allows an OpenGL client on one vendor's platform to
run across a network to another vendor's OpenGL server.
The OpenGL functions described on the Capabilities page are
available in every OpenGL implementation to make applications
written with OpenGL easily portable between platforms. All
licensed OpenGL implementations are required to pass the
Conformance Tests, and come from a single specification and
language binding document.
Shawn Hargreaves.
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