Status update - What to expect, when you are expecting OpenGL ES 2.

atilim · May 2013

Hi all,

The original idea, was to release Gideros version that would support OpenGL ES 2 (at least as a beta version) in April. Unfortunately, I need to pause implementing OpenGL ES 2 for some time and need to focus on releasing a new version as 2012.09.11 to address all the bugs reported up to now. Also we'll include some of the plugins (Notification, Facebook for Android, Flurry for Android and Microphone) to 2012.09.11 officially.

Until then, this post was created to discuss all the issues about the new version - the features and limitations. Note that not all features might be introduced in beta release (if there will be one), and some features maybe be added with final release.

Features:

First
Render to texture
Shaders support
Second
Masking support
Multiple stages with multiple OpenGL contexts (AirPlay)

Limitations:

With the new version, we'll be dropping armv6 for iOS and will increase the minimum OS version for iOS to 5.0 (to use GLKView class) and increase the minimum OS version for Android to 2.3 (to use OpenSL). But we'll continue to support armv6 for Android devices.

Best,

techdojo · May 2013

Thanks for the update and being so open about it.
A lot of developers here are "chomping at the bit" to get this support and will no doubt be disappointed by the delay - however more stable and less bugs is better than flashy features and lot's of crashes so I do understand.

I'd ask everyone else reading this to not let this become an excuse for @Atilim bashing but instead understand the reasoning behind this decision.

Just my $0.02

petec · May 2013

Totally agree with @techdojo

fxone · May 2013

@Atilim Looks great! One question: can't be dual version SDK (as Android user I'm speaking) with OpenSL (2.3 and up) and without (2.2 and up)? Is this too much work with that?

Scouser · May 2013

I agree, let's make it a @techdojo bashing thread instead

)

Doh!! Ninja'd

OZApps · May 2013

Are we there yet?

unlying · May 2013

Android 2.2 is more than 2% of users that downloads my games. And i don't need shaders and OpenGL at all.
It is funny story. I thought that Gideros should go to increase our revenue, increase our userbase - alternative platforms even if it Windows Phone will be ok. But no, we just should drop more then 20000 downloads from 1 million.
It looks like 2012.9.11 will be my last update ever.

keszegh · May 2013

@unlying, don't worry, by the time opengl2 support arrives, the 2% will be even less, if not 0.
on the serious side, does this mean that there is no hope that opengl2 support comes in may, let's say (we hoped for a beta in april)? i've been postponing finishing my game since a few months as i always had the feeling that rendertotexture comes soon (at some point i even believed that it is due in january). but it is always later than sooner, so probably it would be better not to postpone anymore and find some workaround for the things i wanted to put into the game - although i don't see any.

ar2rsawseen · May 2013

@unlying I'm sorry but I'm not sure if it was sarcasm or not? 2% is a very small amount of users, I think that the whole market has probably about only 3% of Android 2.2 users.

Six month ago this number was 12%, so I presume that after 3 more months Android 2.2 usage will be near to zero. So, no it won't be your last update ever

atilim · May 2013

@unlying On the other hand, our aim is to make 2012.xx line as stable as possible. So that OpenGL ES 1.1 or Android 2.2 users can stick with it without problem.

atilim · May 2013

@Atilim Looks great! One question: can't be dual version SDK (as Android user I'm speaking) with OpenSL (2.3 and up) and without (2.2 and up)? Is this too much work with that?

@fxone it's really too much work to support 2%.

OZApps · May 2013

@Atilim, are we there yet?

Nascode · May 2013

When will 2012.09.11 come? And any suggested month for gles2 beta?

zoolax · May 2013

@atilim
I have to say,I were waiting for this anxiously,but I rather have a stable version,
Keep up the great work man.
by shader support ,do you mean we can also write our own shaders as well? :-*

thanhquan1512 · May 2013

The same opinion with @unlying & I vote for a stable version with less crash.

p/s: Look! the new "Angry Birds Friends" still support armv6

BlueByLiquid · May 2013

I really need this and have been holding out releasing something because I couldn't get a number of key features without it. I need shader support and render tot texture. I do t think I can wait longer than May so I
Unfortunately am going to have to port everything to another engine. I really wanted to continue but I have to meet timelines and we have already pushed it out too far.

Mells · May 2013

@atilim
transparency is good, thank you.

paul_k_clark · May 2013

@atilim I agree stability first then new features. I would rather wait a bit longer for new features and not have to waste time trying to code around bugs. Keep up the good work.

phongtt · May 2013

Although I'm one of the peope who have been waiting so loooong for ES2 too, but I'm totally agree that stability is top priority

Rickyngk · May 2013

and PBO, Stencil are also supported

>- ?

gianmichele · May 2013

Is the first implementation going to allow for dynamic lighting using pixel shaders?

For an example of what I mean please look at http://ethanonengine.com/

techdojo · May 2013

Are we there yet?

You sound like my kids in the car on a day out.

@Scouser - cheers mate, that's all the thanks I get for years of devoted coffee making

OZApps · May 2013

@Techdojo, that's exactly the idea behind it, we have been waiting for quite a long time now and just wanted to know where we are and how long before this is released.

While one way to look at things is to get an established and stable API, the other is that it takes a little while before one can learn/get familiar with the API/features, so it would be helpful to get some time to play with it and see how things would pan out.

Scouser · May 2013

@techdojo: You are still alive then?

BlueByLiquid · May 2013

While one way to look at things is to get an established and stable API, the other is that it takes a little while before one can learn/get familiar with the API/features, so it would be helpful to get some time to play with it and see how things would pan out.

We really need to see if the features and mess around with it. I understand stability is important but just get something out there so people can start messing with it and I think you will see the large interest once you get it out there.

ondesic · May 2013

Darn, darn, darn. This is THE feature I have been really waiting for. I have been using another engine for a year waiting for Gideros. Today I decided to check Gideros again. A have an app that I am dying to port, but cannot without Render to texture. Guess I'm back on the market for another environment

ar2rsawseen · May 2013

@BlueByLiquid @ondesic completely understand your frustration.

But the problem is, that in any case there will be a frustration,
either we drop support for older devices and move on the new technology right now,
or provide the last very stable version for users who want to support older devices, before moving to new tech.

The decision was very hard, but we decided to concentrate on stability (because same bugs could also be introduced in new version).

But the good news is, that the new version was almost ready, so unless there some major changes due to the found bugs, etc, the time span between versions will not be so big (as time between major releases have been)

BlueByLiquid · May 2013

@ar2rsawseen,

Thanks for your response. I guess I thought if it was almost ready you could release it as a beta but I understand. I have had to go back to MOAI and port my Gideros code base to get something finished up and released. While I like MOAI I don't feel like it is remotely supported so I don't trust using it too much and I don't have the resources to maintain it internally so hopefully we can Gideros support very soon as you say.

Are you working for Gideros officially now? I know I used a few of your great libraries before and I saw you have been updating the docs. Would be great to have you doing official code for gideros, especially some of your code for widgets and your other stuff which makes it easier to work with Gideros.

ar2rsawseen · May 2013

@BlueByLiquid yes I've recently started working for Gideros and now mostly working on plugin stuff, cause there a lot things to do there also

After it I may move to help with the core

BlueByLiquid · May 2013

@Ar2rsawseen, Great news! Hope to see some news plugins soon

hgvyas123 · May 2013

@BlueByLiquid yes I've recently started working for Gideros and now mostly working on plugin stuff, cause there a lot things to do there also After it I may move to help with the core

score loop plugin for android plz squeak squeak

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Status update - What to expect, when you are expecting OpenGL ES 2.

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