OpenGL (GLX)

The Cygwin/X X Server supports both software OpenGL rendering (using the mesa software renderer), and hardware accelerated OpenGL rendering (using the native Windows OpenGL (WGL) interface).

The X server command line options -wgl and -nowgl turn on and off the use of the native Windows OpenGL implementation. Currently -wgl is only supported in multiwindow mode, and is on by default in that mode. -wgl has no effect if your display driver does not support hardware-accelerated OpenGL.

The creation of indirect GLX contexts is disabled by default. The +iglx option is required to allow them.

Table 3-1. Summary of OpenGL rendering options

software rendering a

hardware-accelerated rendering

indirect

(Uses GLX protocol, limited to OpenGL 1.4)

start server with +iglx -nowgl options

export LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT=1

start server with +iglx -wgl options

export LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT=1

direct

export LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1

start server with -wgl option (default)

(local clients only)

Notes:
a. The software renderer used (e.g. llvmpipe, softpipe, swr) can be selected using the GALLIUM_DRIVER environment variable.

Currently the default configurations are:

If glxinfo | grep OpenGL outputs something mentioning your graphics card vendor, you have hardware-accelerated rendering. If it mentions Mesa, you have software rendering.

Please ensure you are using the latest display drivers for your graphics hardware before reporting any visual issues with WGL.

Note: Please report problems with specific OpenGL applications to the cygwin mailing list.

Known issues: