Integrating a modern graphics API

[aetherwingz]

It would likely be beneficial to replace the current renderer with a modern graphics backend that builds on top of an up-to-date graphics API.

Considering that newer OpenGL versions have issues on macOS (due to Apple dropping OpenGL for Metal) and DirectX 12 not being cross-platform, Vulkan would be the obvious choice to me.

I'll be attempting this on my own for now, but ideas/suggestions/whatever would be greatly appreciated.

[desplmfao]

dawn wgpu

[aetherwingz]

dawn wgpu

WebGPU is definitely a noteworthy idea, but could you please elaborate on why exactly you believe it's better suited than Vulkan here?

[izzint]

i've been doing some preliminary work on a new platform to support more modern graphics APIs, currently targeting OpenGL 4.1 (for macOS support) with glfw, but i'm planning on moving to the great SDL_GPU API (provides Vulkan, Metal and DirectX 12 under one roof) sometime in the near future.

see https://github.com/izzint/MinecraftConsoles/tree/crossplatform

[izzint]

i'd guess i'd start working on migrating my current windowing system to SDL3 sometime tomorrow, just using a GL context for now until i get actually building under linux sorted out

[aetherwingz]

i'd guess i'd start working on migrating my current windowing system to SDL3 sometime tomorrow, just using a GL context for now until i get actually building under linux sorted out

No matter the graphics API, SDL3 is a good choice here, and we could do some sorta hybrid between Vulkan and OpenGL so ppl can switch between compatibility on lower end devices and high performance

[aetherwingz]

SDL_GPU isn't a bad idea by any means, but raw Vulkan likely provides more functionally especially regarding compute and such.

[IAmTheNerdNextDoor]

using both is a good idea in my head, satisfies both sides but would make it harder to work on i think.

[aetherwingz]

using both is a good idea in my head, satisfies both sides but would make it harder to work on i think.

The complexity would be worth it in my opinion, but we should do a hard separation between the two, effectively two different renderer implementations. And we could likely split it up between people, since I'm not particularly good at OpenGL and would much rather prefer doing Vulkan

[IAmTheNerdNextDoor]

using both is a good idea in my head, satisfies both sides but would make it harder to work on i think.

The complexity would be worth it in my opinion, but we should do a hard separation between the two, effectively two different renderer implementations. And we could likely split it up between people, since I'm not particularly good at OpenGL and would much rather prefer doing Vulkan

well as long as there is people to take on the challenge, this can be done!

[izzint]

I'm not particularly good at OpenGL and would much rather prefer doing Vulkan

fair warning, a majority of the renderer code provided by 4J is mostly a wrapper around OpenGL 1.1 fixed pipeline code originally used in JE

[aetherwingz]

I'm not particularly good at OpenGL and would much rather prefer doing Vulkan

fair warning, a majority of the renderer code provided by 4J is mostly a wrapper around OpenGL 1.1 fixed pipeline code originally used in JE

Well yeah, I was referring to modern optimized GL, old GL is easy compared to optimizing modern OpenGL

[aetherwingz]

using both is a good idea in my head, satisfies both sides but would make it harder to work on i think.

The complexity would be worth it in my opinion, but we should do a hard separation between the two, effectively two different renderer implementations. And we could likely split it up between people, since I'm not particularly good at OpenGL and would much rather prefer doing Vulkan

well as long as there is people to take on the challenge, this can be done!

Yeah, as previously mentioned, we ideally want someone else with experience for modern OpenGL as well, but Vulkan won't be a problem for me

[xgui4]

as long as it keep the LCE graphic/look i am ok with that, as that graphic is one of the thing i love about LCE espcially if it make a Linux port easier.

[aetherwingz]

as long as it keep the LCE graphic/look i am ok with that, as that graphic is one of the thing i love about LCE espcially if it make a Linux port easier.

This will not affect the visuals at all, it is purely for the implementation behind it