The latest Mesa 3D graphics library 18.1.1 now can be easily installed in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS via PPA.
For those sticking to the open-source drivers and need graphics performance improvements (e.g. for playing games), Canonical’s Timo Aaltonen has pushed Mesa 18.1.1 in the x-updates PPA.
1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T or by searching for ‘Terminal’ from software launcher. When it opens, run command:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates
Type your password (no asterisks while typing due to security reason) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.
2. After adding the PPA, do system update via command:
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
apt-get update is not required any more in Ubuntu 18.04 since adding PPA automatically refreshes system repositories.
3. Finally check your driver version via command:
glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"
Uninstall:
To restore changes and downgrade to the default drives shipped in Ubuntu 18.04, run command:
sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates
is it possible to use the MESA drivers along with the proprietary drivers of nvidia installed on the system?
No it is not the proprietary drivers for nvidia are better than the all of the open source drivers. Its only if you on the amd side of things that mesa is far superior for gaming.