docs/RELNOTES-6.1

   1
   2                            Mesa 6.1 release notes
   3
   4                               August 18, 2004
   5
   6                               PLEASE READ!!!!
   7
   8
   9
  10 Introduction
  11 ------------
  12
  13 Mesa uses an even/odd version number scheme like the Linux kernel.
  14 Odd numbered versions (such as 6.1) designate new developmental releases.
  15 Even numbered versions (such as 6.0) designate stable releases.
  16
  17
  18 New Features
  19 ------------
  20
  21 Half-precision floating point (GLhalf) pixel formats are supported
  22 in Mesa, but the feature isn't exposed yet since the ARB extension
  23 hasn't been finalized yet.
  24
  25
  26 Texture image handling
  27 ----------------------
  28
  29 The code which implements image conversion, pixel transfer ops, etc
  30 for glTexImage commands has been rewritten.
  31
  32 Now the gl_texture_format struct has a new StoreImage function
  33 pointer.  Each texture format must implement this function.  The
  34 function is totally responsible for converting the user's texture
  35 image into the specific format.  A few helper functions makes this
  36 relatively simple.
  37
  38 Overall, the code is much simpler, cleaner and easier to work with
  39 now.  Adding new texture formats is straight-forward and there's no
  40 longer any distinction between "hardware" and "software" formats.
  41
  42 Finally, the code for compressed texture images has been reorganized
  43 as well.
  44
  45 Removed files:
  46   texutil.c
  47   texutil.h
  48   texutil_tmp.h
  49
  50 New files:
  51   texcompress_s3tc.c
  52   texcompress_fxt1.c
  53
  54
  55
  56 Driver / context changes
  57 ------------------------
  58
  59 The _mesa_create_context() and _mesa_initialize_context() function
  60 parameters have changed.  They now take a pointer to a struct
  61 dd_function_table.  Drivers can initialize this table by calling
  62 _mesa_init_driver_functions().  Drivers should then plug in the special
  63 functions they implement.  In particular, the ctx->Driver.NewTextureObject
  64 pointer _must_ be set so that the default texture objects created in
  65 _mesa_create/initialize_context() are correctly built.
  66
  67 The _mesa_init_driver_functions() function allows a lot of redundant code
  68 to be removed from the device drivers (such as initializing
  69 ctx->Driver.Accum to point to _swrast_Accum).  Adding new functions to
  70 the dd_function_table can be done with less hassle since the pointer can
  71 be initialized in _mesa_init_driver_functions() rather than in _all_ the
  72 drivers.
  73
  74
  75 Device Drivers
  76 --------------
  77
  78 Mesa advertises itself as supporting OpenGL 1.2, 1.3, 1.4 or 1.5
  79 depending on the device driver's capabilities.  For example, if the
  80 driver enables all the ARB extensions which are part of OpenGL 1.5
  81 then glGetString(GL_VERSION) will return "1.5".  Otherwise, it'll
  82 return "1.4" or the next lower version that implements all required
  83 functionality.
  84
  85 A number of Mesa's software drivers haven't been actively maintained for
  86 some time.  We rely on volunteers to maintain many of the drivers.
  87 Here's the current status of all included drivers:
  88
  89 Driver                  Status
  90 ----------------------  ---------------------
  91 XMesa (Xlib)            implements OpenGL 1.5
  92 OSMesa (off-screen)     implements OpenGL 1.5
  93 Glide (3dfx Voodoo1/2)  implements OpenGL 1.3
  94 SVGA                    implements OpenGL 1.3
  95 Wind River UGL          implements OpenGL 1.3
  96 Windows/Win32           implements OpenGL 1.5
  97 DJGPP                   implements OpenGL 1.5
  98 GGI                     implements OpenGL 1.3
  99 BeOS                    implements OpenGL 1.5
 100 Allegro                 needs updating
 101 D3D                     needs updating
 102
 103
 104
 105 Other Changes
 106 -------------
 107
 108 See the VERSIONS file for more details about bug fixes, etc. in Mesa 6.1.
 109
 110
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