ModernGL

ModernGL is a python wrapper over OpenGL 3.3+ core that simplifies the creation of simple graphics applications like scientific simulations, games or user interfaces. Usually, acquiring in-depth knowledge of OpenGL requires a steep learning curve. In contrast, ModernGL is easy to learn and use, moreover it is capable of rendering with high performance and quality, with less code written. The majority of the moderngl code base is also written in C++ for high performance.

pip install moderngl

• Documentation
• Examples
• ModernGL on Github
• ModernGL on PyPI
• ModernGL Discord Server
• glcontext
• moderngl-window (Window creation, resource loading, ..)

NOTE: From moderngl 5.6 context creation is delegated to the glcontext package. This makes us able to expand and improve context creation without releasing new versions of moderngl. It also makes it possible for users to customize their own context creation and the bar for contributing should be lower. New backends can be created using ctypes or C++.

Features

• GPU accelerated high quality graphics
• Rendering modern OpenGL scenes with less headache
• Simpler and faster than PyOpenGL
• Can render without a window
• 100% Pythonic

Sample usage

>>> import moderngl
>>> ctx = moderngl.create_standalone_context()
>>> buf = ctx.buffer(b'Hello World!')  # allocated on the GPU
>>> buf.read()
b'Hello World!'

For complete examples please visit the Examples.

Easy to use with Pillow and Numpy

>>> img = Image.open('texture.jpg')
>>> ctx.texture(img.size, 3, img.tobytes())
<Texture: 1>

>>> ctx.buffer(np.array([0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 1.0], dtype='f4'))
<Buffer: 1>

Compared to PyOpenGL

With PyOpenGL, using the original OpenGL API, you have to write three lines to achieve a simple task like binding a VBO:

vbo1 = glGenBuffers(1)
GL.glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, vbo1)
GL.glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, b'Hello World!', GL_STATIC_DRAW)

vbo2 = glGenBuffers(1)
GL.glBindBuffer(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, vbo2)
GL.glBufferData(GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, b'\x00' * 1024, GL_DYNAMIC_DRAW)

With ModernGL you need just one simple line per VBO to achieve the same results:

vbo1 = ctx.buffer(b'Hello World!')
vbo2 = ctx.buffer(reserve=1024, dynamic=True)

Build

python setup.py build_ext --inplace

FAQ

Is ModernGL faster than PyOpenGL?

In many cases yes, the core functions of ModernGL are written in C++, OpenGL functions are called in quick succession so these calls together count as a single python function call.

What version of OpenGL is used?

Most of the calls only require OpenGL 3.3 but Subroutines and Compute Shaders require OpenGL 4.0 and OpenGL 4.3

Is my old PC supported?

OpenGL 3.3 came out in February 2010. With up to date drivers you will be able to use the most of the ModernGL functions, even on integrated graphics cards. (Compute Shaders will likely not work depending on how old your PC is.)

You can still try using Mesa but performance would be limited.

Where can I use ModernGL?

Anywhere where OpenGL is supported. ModernGL is capable of rendering using a standalone_context as well. Rendering to a window only requires a valid OpenGL context.

Can ModernGL create a Window?

NO, but we provide a utility library moderngl-window making window creation and resource loading very simple.

Limitations using ModernGL over PyOpenGL?

All the necessary calls are (or can be) implemented in ModernGL. However you can interact with the ModernGL objects from PyOpenGL. If something is missing write an issue or raise a PR.

Supported platforms

• Windows
• Linux
• Mac

Installing from source

Installing on Ubuntu from source

apt-get install python3-dev libgl1-mesa-dev libx11-dev
python3 setup.py install

Building the sphinx documentation

pip install -r docs/requirements.txt
python setup.py build_sphinx

Running tests

pip install -r tests/requirements.txt
pytest tests

Some of the tests may be skipped when the supported OpenGL version is below the requirements of the given test.

Headless rendering

apt-get install xvfb
alias xpy='xvfb-run -s "-screen 0 1x1x24" python3'
xpy -m moderngl

Code quality

Code is tested with pep8, flake8, prospector and pylint

Community

• Code of conduct

Citation

If you need to cite this repository in academic research:

@Online{Dombi2020,
  author = {Szabolcs Dombi},
  title = {ModernGL, high performance python bindings for OpenGL 3.3+},
  date = {2020-05-01},
  publisher = {GitHub},
  journal = {GitHub repository},
  howpublished = {\url{https://github.com/moderngl/moderngl}},
  commit = {<insert hash if needed>}
}

If commit hash is required this can be found per release here: https://github.com/moderngl/moderngl/releases

Contributors

• Szabolcs Dombi
• SimLeek
• Aljenci
• MinchinWeb
• Silexstudio
• stuaxo
• Tomi Aarnio
• Joshua Reibert
• Einar Forselv
• Jonathan Hartley
• yoyonel
• Naveen M K

and many others

Thank You!

Contributions are welcome. (Please add yourself to the list)