# Opengl software rendering

**URL:** <https://discourse.glfw.org/t/opengl-software-rendering/1150>\
**Category:** support\
**Created:** [July 13, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://discourse.glfw.org/t/opengl-software-rendering/1150 "2018-07-13T18:55:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Wanderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a9a28c/32.png) [@Wanderer](https://discourse.glfw.org/u/Wanderer)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://discourse.glfw.org/t/opengl-software-rendering/1150/1 "2018-07-13T18:55:58Z")

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can glfw run opengl in software rendering? Maybe I call it wrong but I want support some notebooks with graphic cards which don’t run opengl.  
My application is only 2D gui, I hope software rendering don’t slow my application much.

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**Author:** ![mmozeiko](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.glfw.org/mmozeiko/32/29_2.png) [@mmozeiko](https://discourse.glfw.org/u/mmozeiko)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://discourse.glfw.org/t/opengl-software-rendering/1150/2 "2018-07-13T19:23:46Z")

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Yes, glfw works fine with software OpenGL implementations. I have successfully used in on Linux and Windows with mesa llvmpipe backend. SwithShader and Angle probably also works (only with OpenGL ES), but I have not tried them.

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**Author:** ![Wanderer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a9a28c/32.png) [@Wanderer](https://discourse.glfw.org/u/Wanderer)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 7:31pm UTC](https://discourse.glfw.org/t/opengl-software-rendering/1150/3 "2018-07-13T19:31:32Z")

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thanks, I try it.

and can I use both? Hardware and software r. inside one application? I mean when OpenGL is not available, then software rendering will be used.

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**Author:** ![dougbinks](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.glfw.org/dougbinks/32/39_2.png) [@dougbinks](https://discourse.glfw.org/u/dougbinks)\
**Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 7:51pm UTC](https://discourse.glfw.org/t/opengl-software-rendering/1150/4 "2018-07-13T19:51:44Z")

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Note that GLFW does not provide a software OpenGL implementation. You will need to provide one.

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**Author:** ![andyskinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@andyskinner](https://discourse.glfw.org/u/andyskinner)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 3:52pm UTC](https://discourse.glfw.org/t/opengl-software-rendering/1150/5 "2018-09-11T15:52:24Z")

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I was thinking about having the Windows generic renderer as a backup. Could we request that?

Here someone was requesting a change to be able to choose software OpenGL if available.:

> <https://github.com/glfw/glfw/issues/589>

Anyone know about progress?  
thanks  
andy

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**Author:** ![mmozeiko](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.glfw.org/mmozeiko/32/29_2.png) [@mmozeiko](https://discourse.glfw.org/u/mmozeiko)\
**Post date:** [September 11, 2018, 10:44pm UTC](https://discourse.glfw.org/t/opengl-software-rendering/1150/6 "2018-09-11T22:44:28Z")

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I suggest dropping OpenGL32.dll from mesa next to executable is better option than Windows generic renderer.

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**Author:** ![andyskinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@andyskinner](https://discourse.glfw.org/u/andyskinner)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2018, 12:13pm UTC](https://discourse.glfw.org/t/opengl-software-rendering/1150/7 "2018-09-18T12:13:29Z")

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We prefer to have several options. As far as I can see, someone started working on this. I wonder if it could be finished, or if something turned up to make it not work.

thanks  
andy