The latest Mesa 3D graphics library 17.1.0, which was released a week ago, now is backported for Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 17.04 via “Ubuntu-X” team PPA.
Mesa 17.1.0 implements the OpenGL 4.5 API, but the version reported by glGetString(GL_VERSION) or glGetIntegerv(GL_MAJOR_VERSION) / glGetIntegerv(GL_MINOR_VERSION) depends on the particular driver being used. Some drivers don’t support all the features required in OpenGL 4.5. OpenGL 4.5 is only available if requested at context creation because compatibility contexts are not supported.
Mesa 17.1.0 features:
- OpenGL 4.2 on i965/ivb
- GL_ARB_gpu_shader_fp64 on i965/ivybridge
- GL_ARB_gpu_shader_int64 on i965/gen8+, nvc0, radeonsi, softpipe, llvmpipe
- GL_ARB_shader_ballot on nvc0, radeonsi
- GL_ARB_shader_clock on nv50, nvc0, radeonsi
- GL_ARB_shader_group_vote on radeonsi
- GL_ARB_shader_precision on i965/ivb
- GL_ARB_shader_viewport_layer_array on radeonsi
- GL_ARB_sparse_buffer on radeonsi/CIK+
- GL_ARB_transform_feedback2 on i965/gen6
- GL_ARB_transform_feedback_overflow_query on i965/gen6+
- GL_ARB_vertex_attrib_64bit on i965/ivb
- GL_NV_fill_rectangle on nvc0
- Geometry shaders enabled on swr
Install Mesa 17.1.0 in Ubuntu 16.04 / 17.04:
Open terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or searching for “Terminal” from start menu. When it opens, run following commands one by one:
1. Add the PPA repository via command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates
Type in your password (no visual feedback due to security reason) and hit Enter.
2. Then check updates and upgrade your system to get the latest Mesa library:
sudo apt update sudo apt dist-upgrade
To check result, run command:
glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"
How to Restore:
To revert back to the original Mesa 3D graphics library in your main Ubuntu repository, get into command console and run:
sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates
it asked me to sudo autoremove 2 items (can’t remember which ones) afterwards & my OS lost most graphical capabilities (text gone in most places; Docky dockbar, taskbar, & desktop wallpaper disappeared). Peppermint 7 x64. I’m ok though since it was a backup drive where I test experimental things like this for myself. I consider myself a somewhat intermediate Linux user, but unsure how to easily revert this as your uninstall . I was looking to run one Linux to avoid multi-booting & since SteamOS is lousy & difficult in adding other Linux programs, but I’ll have to continue using SteamOS for gaming on another drive & Peppermint on my main SSD. Thank you for your article though as it may go better for other users w/various hardware, I imagine.