Novell Betas XgL 3D Graphics for Linux Desktop

Published: February 7, 2006

by Timothy Prickett Morgan

Commercial Linux distributor Novell today said that it has woven enhancements to the open source X over OpenGL (XgL) graphics subsystem into its Linux distributions, and will start delivering it soon in the Novell Linux Desktop implementation aimed at corporate desktops. The XgL enhancements will undoubtedly make their way almost immediately into the openSUSE desktop Linux project, and according to Greg Mancusi-Ungaro, director of marketing for Linux and open source at Novell, said that he is hopeful that the new graphics can be added to the forthcoming SUSE Linux 10.1 desktop release.

The XgL project is spearheaded by David Reveman, and Novell has been a heavy sponsor of the project, which will bring improved 3D rendering capabilities to the KDE and Gnome desktops, and it will be using XgL and the associated Compiz compositing and window manager to deliver a funky new 3D interface for SUSE Linux. Sun Microsystems has created its "Looking Glass" project to accomplish the same thing, and Microsoft is doing a lot of 3D stuff in the future "Longhorn" Windows Vista desktop, due this year. 3D interfaces are going to be all the rage, and not just because PC makers want to sell faster and more expensive video cards. 2D interfaces are easily cluttered. So adding windows that rotate, transparent windows, shading for objects on the desktop, and other nifty 3D effects are actually practical for end users as well as for PC makers.

You can take a gander at the XgL support in some screenshots and flash movies that Novell has created by clicking here.