The Silicon Graphics Inc-derived OpenGL graphics library application programming interface is gaining momentum in its bid to become the three-dimensional application programming interface of choice, especially with Microsoft Corp backing it. It is overshadowing the old PHIGS Extension to X PEX lib, beloved of Sun Microsystems Inc and Hewlett-Packard Co as a significant three-dimensional application programming interface. Template Graphics Inc is already offering the stuff pretty much wherever it is not available natively. Would it come as a surprise to learn that Sun is steeling itself to utter the O word? The company wouldn’t confirm or deny rumours last week that it plans to support OpenGL natively under Solaris, but it admitted that it could make sense.
