@luma.gl/gltools

What is @luma.gl/gltools?

@luma.gl/gltools is a package that provides a set of tools and utilities for working with WebGL. It is part of the luma.gl suite, which is designed to simplify the process of creating high-performance WebGL applications. The package includes utilities for managing WebGL contexts, handling shaders, and working with textures and buffers.

What are @luma.gl/gltools's main functionalities?

WebGL Context Management

This feature allows you to create and manage WebGL contexts easily. The `createGLContext` function initializes a WebGL context, which is essential for rendering graphics using WebGL.

const {createGLContext} = require('@luma.gl/gltools');
const gl = createGLContext();

Shader Compilation

This feature provides utilities for compiling shaders. The `compileShader` function takes a WebGL context, shader type, and shader source code, and returns a compiled shader object.

const {compileShader} = require('@luma.gl/gltools');
const vertexShaderSource = '...';
const fragmentShaderSource = '...';
const vertexShader = compileShader(gl, gl.VERTEX_SHADER, vertexShaderSource);
const fragmentShader = compileShader(gl, gl.FRAGMENT_SHADER, fragmentShaderSource);

Texture Management

This feature simplifies the process of creating and managing textures. The `createTexture` function creates a WebGL texture object from an image or other data source.

const {createTexture} = require('@luma.gl/gltools');
const texture = createTexture(gl, {data: image, width: 256, height: 256});

Buffer Management

This feature provides utilities for creating and managing WebGL buffers. The `createBuffer` function initializes a WebGL buffer with the provided data.

const {createBuffer} = require('@luma.gl/gltools');
const buffer = createBuffer(gl, new Float32Array([0, 0, 1, 1, 2, 2]));

Other packages similar to @luma.gl/gltools

twgl.js

twgl.js is a library that aims to make working with WebGL easier by providing higher-level abstractions for common tasks such as creating shaders, buffers, and textures. Compared to @luma.gl/gltools, twgl.js offers a more comprehensive set of utilities and is designed to be more user-friendly for developers who may not be as familiar with the intricacies of WebGL.

three.js

three.js is a popular 3D library that abstracts away much of the complexity of WebGL, allowing developers to create complex 3D scenes with less effort. While @luma.gl/gltools focuses on providing utilities for low-level WebGL operations, three.js offers a higher-level API for creating and managing 3D objects, scenes, and animations.

regl

regl is a functional abstraction for WebGL that simplifies the process of writing WebGL code by providing a declarative API. It allows developers to define rendering operations in a more concise and readable manner. Compared to @luma.gl/gltools, regl offers a different approach to managing WebGL state and rendering, focusing on a more functional and declarative style.

README

The README file is missing

Changelog

9.0.0-alpha.17

• feat: Switch to ES modules (#1745)