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revision 1.10 by tjl, Sun Jan 26 21:25:58 2003 UTC revision 1.11 by tjl, Mon Jan 27 11:35:43 2003 UTC
# Line 232  it. Line 232  it.
232  Section IV: Questions specific to using OpenGL with the Java version  Section IV: Questions specific to using OpenGL with the Java version
233    
234  -----  -----
235  1. What video card should I get?  1. Isn't it a downside not to use pure Java? Can you run the OpenGL version
236    on any non-Linux operating systems? Why not java3d?
237    
238    There are several answers here.
239    
240    a) OpenGL and GLX are standard APIs, and the same code should run unchanged
241    on Solaris, IRIX, etc.  Additionally, we have been careful to separate the
242    OS-dependent parts into one C++ file, which can easily be ported; I'd estimate
243    a week or two of work by a programmer experienced on using OpenGL on
244    the platform being ported to.
245    
246    So the portability is only marginally affected
247    
248    b) Yes, it is a downside, but the benefits outweigh the costs:
249    we really want the advanced properties the OpenGL for freeer visualizations.
250    Java2D would only be a stopgap measure and has no *efficient* Linux implementations.
251    
252    c) Java3D is proprietary; there are no free implementations. We want our
253    software to run on a purely free software platform for ideological
254    reasons. Yes, we know NVIDIA's drivers are proprietary; however, for most
255    OpenGL extensions there are free implementations.
256    
257    -----
258    2. What video card should I get?
259    
260  Currently, the recommended cards (on Linux) are as follows  Currently, the recommended cards (on Linux) are as follows
261  (note, this is just personal opinions; not all the cards below have been  (note, this is just personal opinions; not all the cards below have been
262  tested and, as usual, we guarantee *nothing*)  tested and, as usual, we guarantee *nothing*)
263    
264    Currently, the best option is GeForce4 Ti.
265    
266  ATI:  ATI:
267      - R300: Radeon 9500, 9500PRO, 9700, 9700PRO: GOOD FEATURES, SHAKY DRIVERS.      - R300: Radeon 9500, 9500PRO, 9700, 9700PRO: GOOD FEATURES, SHAKY DRIVERS.
       ATI turned the tables in fall 2002 by releasing a texture  
       shading linux driver.  
268    
269        These boards excellent with the fragment program            ATI turned the tables in fall 2002 by releasing a texture
270        support. Gzz still has some problems but these will            shading linux driver.
271        likely be resolved soon since active work is being done  
272        in the area.            These boards excellent with the fragment program
273                    support. Gzz still has some problems but these will
274        Also, the drivers still somewhat unstable but we're            likely be resolved soon since active work is being done
275        working around that. See GL.workaroundStupidBuggyAtiDrivers            in the area.
276        for a list of bugs.  
277              Also, the drivers still somewhat unstable but we're
278              working around the bugs as hard as we can.. See
279              the variable GL.workaroundStupidBuggyAtiDrivers
280              for a list of bugs.
281    
282              There are some bugs we can't work around which will cause
283              significant performance degradation in important applications
284              (e.g. xupdf)
285    
286      - R100, R200: Radeon 7500, 8500, 9000, 9100: AVOID      - R100, R200: Radeon 7500, 8500, 9000, 9100: AVOID
287    
288          - ATI did not have proper Linux drivers with texture            ATI did not have proper Linux drivers with texture
289            shading support out during the reign of these cards. Therefore,            shading support out during the reign of these cards. Therefore,
290            we did not buy any and have not developed support for the            we did not buy any and have not developed support for the
291            ATI_fragment_shader extension, and you will get very suboptimal            ATI_fragment_shader extension, and you will get very suboptimal
292            results with these.            results with these; just base OpenGL support.
293    
294            If you are into programming and own one of these cards,            If you are into programming and own one of these cards,
295            it should not be too difficult to rectify the situation;            it should not be too difficult to rectify the situation;
# Line 269  ATI: Line 300  ATI:
300  NVIDIA:  NVIDIA:
301      - NV20: GeForce4 Ti, GeForce3, GeForce3 Ti, GeForce4 Go 4200: RECOMMENDED      - NV20: GeForce4 Ti, GeForce3, GeForce3 Ti, GeForce4 Go 4200: RECOMMENDED
302    
303          - NVIDIA drivers are good and we put their register combiners            NVIDIA drivers are good and we put their register combiners
304            extensions to active use in Gzz. Libpaper uses texture shading            extensions to active use in Gzz. Libpaper uses texture shading
305            on NV20, and we are working on vertex programs.            on NV20, and we are working on vertex programs. The texture shading
306              pipeline is slightly restrictive but reasonable.
307    
308      - NV10: GeForce2 Ti, GeForce2 MX, GeForce4 MX, GeForce4 Go 460: PASSABLE      - NV10: GeForce2 Ti, GeForce2 MX, GeForce4 MX, GeForce4 Go 460: PASSABLE
309                
# Line 296  Brand X: Line 328  Brand X:
328        the graphics MUCH better, but is not absolutely required..        the graphics MUCH better, but is not absolutely required..
329            
330  ---  ---
331  2. I'm a video card / input device / ... manufacturer. How can I get my  3. I'm a video card / input device / ... manufacturer. How can I get my
332  hardware better supported?  hardware better supported?
333    
334  Well, as usual, no guarantees, but if you donate us cool hardware with  Well, as usual, no guarantees, but if you donate us cool hardware with
# Line 308  on a shelf as spares.  However, if they Line 340  on a shelf as spares.  However, if they
340  9900?), it would probably be fully supported in days.  9900?), it would probably be fully supported in days.
341    
342  ---  ---
343  3. Why are fragment programs (texture shading) so important for Gzz?  4. Why are fragment programs (texture shading) so important for Gzz?
344    
345  They allow detailed control of the output, pixel by pixel, at amazing  They allow detailed control of the output, pixel by pixel, at amazing
346  speeds.  For instance, rendering unique backgrounds using libpaper stops  speeds.  For instance, rendering unique backgrounds using libpaper stops
# Line 321  fragment programs. Line 353  fragment programs.
353  Quite simply, this is where a lot of our visual experimentation will be  Quite simply, this is where a lot of our visual experimentation will be
354  happening in the near future. Be there or be square ;)  happening in the near future. Be there or be square ;)
355    
356    ---
357    5. Isn't the variable name "GL.workaroundStupidBuggyAtiDrivers" a bit
358    unprofessional?
359    
360    So are their drivers :(
361    
362    For instance, advertising the opengl compressed extension and not
363    implementing the entry point glCompressedTexImage2DARB is pretty bad.
364    
365    I will change the name once I see them fixing some of the most
366    glaring problems.
367    

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