Valve's Lessons Learned: Porting Source Engine to Linux
Representatives from the team at Valve take a look at the difficulties they went through in porting the Source game engine to Linux. They discuss various tools they used to do the port, and how switching from DirectX to OpenGL was difficult but may be a hidden gem for game developers.
They state, unequivocally, that OpenGL has most if not all of the capabilities of the current versions of DirectX, and yet newer versions of OpenGL are fully functional on older computers- like the 38.73% of computers still running Windows XP. Someone running a newer GPU on an older OS would still be able to experience the benefits of a modern gaming engine, but wouldn't have to go through the trials and travails of upgrading their operating system and reinstalling all of their software in order to merely upgrade their game visuals. Using OpenGL instead of DirectX will also make it easier to port to other platforms (like OSX and Linux), and further down the road, porting to mobile.
All the new shiny graphics, now available on Windows XP!! (For those of you who prefer it)
Gotta give Valve credit for their work though, it's a step in the right direction.
This story really isn't about linux as it is making a product that is easier to port to different platforms and that is something the openGL gives them.
It's not a matter of being short sighted. It's a matter of, I've used different flavors of linux both personally and professionally since 2000, and while MSFT has moved on from dos over a decade ago, Linux still ties itself to an antiquated command line. MSFT is working on 3D holo interfaces using technologies like kinect. Meanwhile you have these elitest douchbags who will always mutter "I can do it faster in a shell". So the f**k what? All that matters is "What can I do with it today?" When you invest in projects for things you want to do now, for stuff they promise will happen later, all you get is disappointment. Adopt linux for the things it's good at today; e.g. webserving.
The fact that China is investing in Ubuntu is *not* a positive deciding factor for me. I'm not an Anti-China nut, but I understand the 'behind closed doors' competition China is in with US on technology. Believe me, if China is investing in Ubuntu, it's not for the greater global good of OSS. It's so China can stop relying on pirating software from US companies. If you think China won't just take what they want and give little in return, you are short sighted.
I've found that most of the people who complain that Linux is harder than Windows, hard to learn, clinging to an antiquated CLI, or had no support are usually MC* types who are unwilling to learn a different system and expect to be spoon-fed answers all the time (although there are a few legitimate dissenters).
At risk of sounding like an elitest douche bag, for me, linux does everything better; with the exception of gaming. Any modern distro does not tie you to the command line; it provides the command line as an alternative means of doing things. Rather than than the parochial Microsoft and their "I know what's best for you" attitude, I much prefer an OS which lets me do what ever I damn well please.
I also don't see the "complicated" nature of linux that you refer to. KDE does everything as easily as windows.
If Valve succeeds, it will shatter DX domination and is a good thing.
Did you actually watch more than the first two minutes?
I haven't seen the whole thing yet, but it looks like the camera person is sitting down and setting up a tripod that is used for the remaining 53 minutes of the talk. I skipped around and the rest of the talk look perfectly stable.
You're speaking like an end-user who uses computers only to browse the web and write word docs. The reason people like the commandline so much is that a commandline-centric model makes everything easy to script and automate. On GUI-centric systems, automation is usually an afterthought.
I like that Linux doesn't force a specific GUI on me. I am free to use whatever frontend (be it X-windows based or not). And if I do use X-windows, then I can use whichever window manager I choose. Things like touch screen and 3D gestural interfaces are a property of the interface and shouldn't be tied to the kernel.
But that's all beside the point. The fact is that Android is built on Linux, which makes it probably the most popular OS on cell phones and first or second most popular on tablets. That's why this matters.
All the new shiny graphics, now available on Windows XP!! (For those of you who prefer it)