1.1. OpenGL曆史 OpenGL History

OpenGL是行業标準的跨平台應用程式設計接口（API）。這份API的規範在1992年完成，1993年出現第一份實作。

它與Silicon Graphics股份有限公司設計和支援的叫做Iris GL (圖形庫)的自用API大部分相容。為了建立一個行業

标準，Silicon Graphics與各種其它圖形硬體公司合作建立了一個開放的标準，稱為"OpenGL"。

OpenGL is an industry-standard, cross-platform APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE (API). The

specification for this API was finalized in 1992, and the first implementations appeared in 1993.

It was largely compatible with a proprietary API called Iris GL (Graphics Library) that was

designed and supported by Silicon Graphics, Inc. To establish an industry standard, Silicon

Graphics collaborated with various other graphics hardware companies to create an open

standard, which was dubbed "OpenGL."

The evolution of OpenGL is controlled by the OpenGL Architecture Review Board, or ARB,

created by Silicon Graphics in 1992. This group is governed by a set of by-laws, and its primary

task is to guide OpenGL by controlling the specification and conformance tests. The original ARB

contained representatives from SGI, Intel, Microsoft, Compaq, Digital Equipment Corporation,

Evans & Sutherland, and IBM. The ARB currently has as members 3Dlabs, Apple, ATI, Dell, IBM,

Intel, NVIDIA, SGI, and Sun Microsystems.

OpenGL shares many of Iris GL's design characteristics. Its intention is to provide access to

graphics hardware capabilities at the lowest possible level that still provides hardware

independence. It is designed to be the lowestlevel interface for accessing graphics hardware.

OpenGL has been implemented in a variety of operating environments, including Macs, PCs, and

UNIX-based systems. It has been supported on a variety of hardware architectures, from those

that support little in hardware other than the frame buffer itself to those that accelerate

virtually everything in hardware.

Since the release of the initial OpenGL specification (version 1.0) in June 1992, six revisions

have added new functionality to the API. The current version of the OpenGL specification is 2.0.

The first conformant implementations of OpenGL 1.0 began appearing in 1993.