Meta releases Intermediate Graphics Library

Post by usrusr » Fri, Jul 07, 2023, 8:03 PM UTC

fidotron wrote: post #67

pavlov wrote: post #36

For an intermediate library, it doesn't actually seem to be very much backend-independent. At least the desktop sample [1] has a disappointing amount of code paths with parallel implementations for OpenGL and Vulkan, switched at compile time using "#if USE_OPENGL_BACKEND". I guess this means that this sample will use OpenGL rather than Metal on macOS? They claim there's a Metal backend, but how would one enable that…

This looks like what happens when the "All abstractions are leaky" crowd go too far. It's an absence of abstraction to the point that the intermediary layer is not helpful enough, and will simply end up hidden behind another layer of obfuscatory gunk. Graphics people need to face the fact that writing optimised cross platform renderers is not something that can be solved by divide/conquer into layers in this bottom u…

Post by nwoli » Fri, Jul 07, 2023, 8:15 PM UTC

TheRealPomax wrote: post #77

stevebmark wrote: post #24

They claim to support WebGL as a compile target, it seems like a pretty big missed opportunity that all of their demos don't link to in-browser WebGL running examples!

To be fair, we don't want WebGL anymore, we want WebGPU now =P

Post by nomel » Fri, Jul 07, 2023, 8:20 PM UTC

usrusr wrote: post #101

fidotron wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This looks like what happens when the "All abstractions are leaky" crowd go too far. It's an absence of abstraction to the point that the intermediary layer is not helpful enough, and will simply end up hidden behind another layer of obfuscatory gunk. Graphics people need to face the fact that writing optimised cross platform renderers is not something that can be solved by divide/conquer into layers in this bottom u…

Reads to me like the usual collection of utility/glue that people build for their own needs? Those usually don't get open sourced, but it's also not wrong to do that. At least if you can resist the urge to announce it as the graphics API to end all graphics APIs...

Post by Waterluvian » Fri, Jul 07, 2023, 8:26 PM UTC

gAI wrote: post #104

dqft wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I prefer the minimalist WebG approach.

I like HTML. Wait, what are we talking about?

Post by gAI » Fri, Jul 07, 2023, 8:31 PM UTC

Waterluvian wrote: post #107

gAI wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I like HTML. Wait, what are we talking about?

Tangent you got me thinking about: HTML clicked for me one day when I mentally decoupled the hypertext from the actual browser rendering. So many of us think HTML and imagine the point is to render a webpage. But HTML describes the semantics, topology, and content of a document. It’s 100% valid to “render” HTML in some other format like a PDF or an mp3.