Chromium is an
OpenGL
OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, cross-platform application programming interface (API) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics. The API is typically used to interact with a graphics processing unit (GPU), to achieve hardwa ...
implementation. Unlike other OpenGL implementations, Chromium does not render the OpenGL command stream to a raster image in order to display on-screen. Instead, it manipulates, and moves the OpenGL command stream to other OpenGL implementations (including even other Chromium implementations).
Chromium provides an infrastructure in which modules, known as SPUs or Stream Processing Units, can be inserted. For each OpenGL command, a SPU can modify, discard, or forward it to the next SPU. Chromium supports a client/server architecture. The last SPU in a node can choose to either pass it to another local OpenGL implementation, such as a graphics card, or send it over a network to one or more Chromium Servers.
Uses include:
* Providing OpenGL for multi-machine, multi-monitor displays. Chromium can be used to provide OpenGL for
Xdmx
In computing, the X Window System (commonly: X11, or X) is a Network transparency, network-transparent windowing system for raster graphics, bitmap displays. This article details the protocols and technical structure of X11.
Client–server model ...
displays.
* Moving an OpenGL stream from one machine to another. For example, an OpenGL application running in a Windows
virtual machine
In computing, a virtual machine (VM) is the virtualization/emulation of a computer system. Virtual machines are based on computer architectures and provide functionality of a physical computer. Their implementations may involve specialized hardw ...
, without 3D acceleration, can make use of full hardware 3D acceleration on a Linux host machine via the use of Chromium.
* Manipulating an OpenGL stream. Chromium can be used to make polygons an application renders transparent.
* Via stream manipulation, Chromium can make non-stereoscopic applications stereoscopic.
* High performance, sort-last configurations. Chromium can be used to split an OpenGL command stream, so that different machines can do different parts of the rendering work. This is like nVidia's
SLI but it supports multiple machines.
External links
Official DocumentationOfficial Homepage
See also
*
VMGL
References
{{XWinSys
Graphics libraries
3D graphics software
OpenGL