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{{Short description|3D graphics API developed by 3dfx Interactive}}
] running with Glide renderer on Voodoo Graphics hardware]]
{{refimprove|date=August 2017}}
'''Glide''' is a proprietary ] ] developed by ] for their ''Voodoo Graphics'' ] cards. It was dedicated to gaming performance, supporting geometry and texture mapping primarily, in data formats identical to those used internally in their cards. The Voodoo cards were the first to offer performance to really make 3D games work well, and Glide became widely used as a result. {{Fact|date=April 2009}} Further refinement of Microsoft's ] and full ] implementations from other graphics card vendors, in addition to growing competition in 3D hardware, eventually caused Glide to become superfluous.
{{Infobox software
| name = Glide
| logo =
| caption =
| author = ]
| latest_release_version = 3.10.00.30303
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2003|09|02}}
| latest preview version =
| latest preview date =
| operating_system = ]
| programming_language = ], ]
| genre = ] ]
| license = ]{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}<br>3DFX GLIDE Source Code General Public License<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/sezero/glide/blob/glide-devel-sezero/LICENSE|title=3DFX GLIDE Source Code General Public License|work=]|publisher=3dfx|date=1999-12-06|access-date=2024-08-28|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205083752/https://github.com/sezero/glide/blob/glide-devel-sezero/LICENSE|url-status=live}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://sourceforge.net/projects/glide/}}
}}
'''Glide''' is a ] ] developed by ] for their ''Voodoo Graphics'' ] cards. It started as a proprietary API, and was later ] by 3dfx.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohloh.net/licenses/3DFX%20GLIDE%20Source%20Code%20General%20Public%20License|title=The 3DFX GLIDE Source Code General Public License|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210005257/http://www.ohloh.net/licenses/3DFX%20GLIDE%20Source%20Code%20General%20Public%20License|archive-date=2009-02-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.3dfx.com/comp/press/rel-dec06.html|title=3dfx Open Sources Glide API And Releases Hardware Specifications|publisher=3dfx|date=1999-12-06|access-date=2024-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000303174313/http://www.3dfx.com/comp/press/rel-dec06.html|archive-date=2000-03-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was dedicated to rendering performance, supporting geometry and ] primarily, in data formats identical to those used internally in their cards.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_electronic-news_1995-11-06_41_2090/page/n85|url-access=registration|title=Startup 3Dfx Eyes 3D Graphics Arena|last=MacLellan|first=Andrew|magazine=]|date=1995-11-06|access-date=2024-08-24|volume=41|issue=2090|page=84}}</ref><ref name=GS-Glide>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/3dfx-open-sources-glide/1100-2447156/|title=3dfx Open Sources Glide|last=Ajami|first=Amer|work=]|date=1999-12-06|access-date=2024-08-28|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205083752/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/3dfx-open-sources-glide/1100-2447156/|url-status=live}}</ref> Wide adoption of 3Dfx led to Glide being extensively used in the late 1990s, but further refinement of Microsoft's ] and the appearance of full ] implementations from other ] vendors, in addition to growing diversity in 3D hardware, eventually caused it to become superfluous.<ref name=GS-Glide/>


⚫ == Glide wrappers and emulators ==
== API ==
Glide emulator development has been in progress since the late 1990s. During 3dfx's lifetime, the company was aggressive at trying to stop these attempts to emulate their proprietary API, shutting down early emulation projects with legal threats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/04/08/3dfx_wraps_up_wrapper_web/|title=3dfx wraps up wrapper Web sites|publisher=The Register|date=April 8, 1999|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810092147/https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/04/08/3dfx_wraps_up_wrapper_web/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, just before it ceased operations and had its assets purchased by ], 3dfx released the Glide API, along with the Voodoo 2 and Voodoo 3 specifications, under an open source license,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/12/07/3dfx_open_sources_glide_voodoo/|title=3dfx open sources Glide, Voodoo 2 and 3 specs|website=]|access-date=2017-08-10|archive-date=2019-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228221725/https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/12/07/3dfx_open_sources_glide_voodoo/|url-status=live}}</ref> which later evolved into an open source project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sourceforge.net/projects/glide/|title=Glide for 3dfx hardware|date=3 April 2013|access-date=20 April 2010|archive-date=13 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113002032/http://sourceforge.net/projects/glide/|url-status=live}}</ref>
] in Glide display mode using a Glide wrapper.]]
] running on Glide wrapper.]]
Glide is based on the basic geometry and "world view" of OpenGL. OpenGL is a large graphics library with roughly 250 calls in the API, many of which are of limited use. Glide was an effort to select primarily features that were useful for real-time rendering of 3D games. The result was an API that was small enough to be implemented entirely in hardware. This focus did lead to various limitations in Glide, such as a 16-bit ] limit.


== Use in games == == See also ==
* ]
The combination of the hardware performance of Voodoo Graphics (Voodoo 1) and Glide's easy-to-use API resulted in Voodoo cards generally dominating the gaming market during the latter half of the 1990s. The name Glide was chosen to be indicative of the GL underpinnings, while being different enough to avoid ] problems. 3dfx also supported a low-level ] driver, essentially a "different Glide" with a wider selection of OpenGL calls and lacking the dedication to a single hardware platform. Due to the Voodoo's "GL-like" hardware, MiniGL on Voodoo was very "thin" and ran almost as well as Glide.
* ]

* ]
⚫ == Glide wrappers and emulators ==
* ] – another low-level API
Glide emulator development has been in progress since the late 1990s. During 3dfx's lifetime, the company was aggressive at trying to stop these attempts to emulate their proprietary API, shutting down early emulation projects due to legal threats.<ref>, The Register, April 8 1999.</ref> Once 3dfx went bankrupt and was purchased by ], Glide emulation was no longer as unwelcome and as of 2009 there are several capable emulators available to run older games.


== References == == References ==
{{reflist}} {{Reflist}}


== External links == == External links ==
* * {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208184740/http://glide.sourceforge.net/ |date=2012-02-08 }}
* * {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402055539/http://www.gamers.org/dEngine/xf3D/glide/glidepgm.htm |date=2012-04-02 }}
* * {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126035813/http://www.sierrahelp.com/Utilities/DisplayUtilities/GlideWrappers.html |date=2012-01-26 }}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115133716/http://www.opengl.org/documentation |date=2012-01-15 }}


{{3dfx Graphics Processors}}

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Latest revision as of 12:28, 28 August 2024

3D graphics API developed by 3dfx Interactive
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
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Glide
Original author(s)3dfx Interactive
Stable release3.10.00.30303 / September 2, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-09-02)
Written inAssembly, C
Operating systemCross-platform
Type3D graphics API
LicenseGNU General Public License
3DFX GLIDE Source Code General Public License
Websitesourceforge.net/projects/glide/

Glide is a 3D graphics API developed by 3dfx Interactive for their Voodoo Graphics 3D accelerator cards. It started as a proprietary API, and was later open sourced by 3dfx. It was dedicated to rendering performance, supporting geometry and texture mapping primarily, in data formats identical to those used internally in their cards. Wide adoption of 3Dfx led to Glide being extensively used in the late 1990s, but further refinement of Microsoft's Direct3D and the appearance of full OpenGL implementations from other graphics card vendors, in addition to growing diversity in 3D hardware, eventually caused it to become superfluous.

Glide wrappers and emulators

Glide emulator development has been in progress since the late 1990s. During 3dfx's lifetime, the company was aggressive at trying to stop these attempts to emulate their proprietary API, shutting down early emulation projects with legal threats. However, just before it ceased operations and had its assets purchased by Nvidia, 3dfx released the Glide API, along with the Voodoo 2 and Voodoo 3 specifications, under an open source license, which later evolved into an open source project.

See also

References

  1. "3DFX GLIDE Source Code General Public License". GitHub. 3dfx. 1999-12-06. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  2. "The 3DFX GLIDE Source Code General Public License". Archived from the original on 2009-02-10.
  3. "3dfx Open Sources Glide API And Releases Hardware Specifications" (Press release). 3dfx. 1999-12-06. Archived from the original on 2000-03-03. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  4. MacLellan, Andrew (1995-11-06). "Startup 3Dfx Eyes 3D Graphics Arena". Electronic News. Vol. 41, no. 2090. p. 84. Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  5. ^ Ajami, Amer (1999-12-06). "3dfx Open Sources Glide". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 5, 2021. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  6. "3dfx wraps up wrapper Web sites". The Register. April 8, 1999. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  7. "3dfx open sources Glide, Voodoo 2 and 3 specs". The Register. Archived from the original on 2019-12-28. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  8. "Glide for 3dfx hardware". 3 April 2013. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2010.

External links

3dfx Interactive
Graphics processors
Acquisitions
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