glxdemo

glxdemo

The glxdemo command usually does not take any specific command-line arguments and is simply executed to launch the demonstration window. It relies on the system's X Window configuration to determine the display and visual settings.

glxdemo is a utility program designed to provide a basic visual demonstration of OpenGL rendering capabilities within the X Window System using GLX (OpenGL Extension to the X Window System). When executed, it typically opens a new window and displays a simple, animated 3D scene, most commonly a rotating gear or a similar geometric object.

This serves as a quick and effective way to verify that your system's 3D graphics acceleration is functioning correctly and that the GLX drivers are properly installed and configured. It is frequently employed by system administrators, developers, and end-users as a diagnostic tool after driver installations, system updates, or when troubleshooting display issues.

While glxdemo is not a performance benchmark, it provides an immediate visual confirmation of basic 3D rendering pipeline integrity. It's a minimal example of an OpenGL application running on an X server, demonstrating the interaction between the application, GLX, and the underlying graphics hardware. The command is usually part of the mesa-demos package, which bundles various simple OpenGL demonstration programs.

The glxdemo command requires an active X Window System session and correctly installed GLX and OpenGL drivers to function. It will typically open a new window for the demonstration. Its successful execution only confirms basic 3D graphics functionality and is not a comprehensive benchmark for performance or advanced feature support. If the window appears blank, flickers, or an error message is displayed, it indicates a potential issue with your graphics driver installation or X server configuration.

Unlike commands that provide textual output, glxdemo offers a visual demonstration. Its primary purpose is to confirm the presence and basic operation of GLX and OpenGL acceleration. A successful run, displaying the rotating object smoothly, signifies that the graphics stack from the application to the hardware is fundamentally working.

glxdemo relies heavily on the X Window System to manage display and windowing, and on the underlying GLX and OpenGL libraries and drivers for 3D rendering. It will not work in a purely console environment without an X server.

The glxdemo program is part of the Mesa Demos collection, which has a long history intertwined with the development of OpenGL and the X Window System. These demos were created to showcase and test the functionalities provided by the Mesa 3D Graphics Library, an open-source implementation of the OpenGL specification. While its exact origin date is not strictly documented, it has been a staple diagnostic and demonstration tool for many years, evolving with graphics driver technology. Its consistent role has been to provide a quick visual verification of GLX and OpenGL setup.

glxinfo(1), glxgears(1), xdpyinfo(1), xrandr(1)