[desktop-discuss] Re: Project Looking Glass 1.0 Release

[Garrett D'Amore]

Alan Coopersmith wrote:
> Dennis Clarke wrote:
>>> How about SPARC (assuming supported 3D acceleration)?
>>>
>>
>> I was waiting for someone ELSE to bring that up.
>>
>> Really, I would think that since Java is open source and OpenSolaris is,
>> well, you know, open and all,
>
> But 3-D acceleration is well, closed.
>

More than closed, it is sealed up in a way that nobody else can create
conformant implementations.  The library is designed so that there are
macros which change the binary ABI that applications are compiled
against, which is not documented.  Furthermore, there isn't any
information available about how to create drivers to plug-in to Sun's
OpenGL implementation.  So the only one who can produce OpenGL libraries
that work with most SPARC-binaries is Sun.  (Sun won't even release
specs under NDA.)

I am getting really, really sick of harping on this, but I think nobody
who is in a position to change anything "gets" this.  Sun has complete
IP ownership of their Sun OpenGL implementation, as well as their own
chips.  They _should_ be willing to work with the community to expand
support for OpenGL graphics on their SPARC products, but so far this
seems to be one area where there has not even been a _hint_ of
willingness to work the community, much less measurable progress.

I keep hoping that someone who knows someone who can apply the right
leverage will do so, so that the SPARC product line can benefit from the
same community participation that the x86 line gets.  I know, its
probably  wishful thinking, but it is nice to dream....

-- 
Garrett D'Amore, Principal Software Engineer
Tadpole Computer / Computing Technologies Division,
General Dynamics C4 Systems
http://www.tadpolecomputer.com/
Phone: 951 325-2134  Fax: 951 325-2191

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