Editing Glide (API)

{{Short description|3D graphics API developed by 3dfx Interactive}}
{{refimprove|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Glide
| logo =   
| caption =
| author = [[3dfx Interactive]]
| latest_release_version = 3.10.00.30303
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2003|09|02}}
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date = 
| operating_system = [[Cross-platform]]
| programming_language = [[Assembly language|Assembly]], [[C (programming language)|C]]
| genre = [[3D graphics]] [[application programming interface|API]]
| license = [[GNU General Public License]]{{citation needed|date=April 2015}}<br>3DFX GLIDE Source Code General Public License<ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/sezero/glide/blob/glide-devel-sezero/LICENSE|title=3DFX GLIDE Source Code General Public License|work=[[GitHub]]|publisher=3dfx|date=1999-12-06|access-date=2024-08-28|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205083752/https://github.com/sezero/glide/blob/glide-devel-sezero/LICENSE|url-status=live}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://sourceforge.net/projects/glide/}}
}}
'''Glide''' is a  [[3D graphics]] [[application programming interface|API]] developed by [[3dfx Interactive]] for their ''Voodoo Graphics'' [[graphics processing unit|3D accelerator]] cards. It started as a proprietary API, and was later [[Open source|open sourced]] by 3dfx.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohloh.net/licenses/3DFX%20GLIDE%20Source%20Code%20General%20Public%20License|title=The 3DFX GLIDE Source Code General Public License|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210005257/http://www.ohloh.net/licenses/3DFX%20GLIDE%20Source%20Code%20General%20Public%20License|archive-date=2009-02-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.3dfx.com/comp/press/rel-dec06.html|title=3dfx Open Sources Glide API And Releases Hardware Specifications|publisher=3dfx|date=1999-12-06|access-date=2024-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000303174313/http://www.3dfx.com/comp/press/rel-dec06.html|archive-date=2000-03-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was dedicated to rendering performance, supporting geometry and [[texture mapping]] primarily, in data formats identical to those used internally in their cards.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_electronic-news_1995-11-06_41_2090/page/n85|url-access=registration|title=Startup 3Dfx Eyes 3D Graphics Arena|last=MacLellan|first=Andrew|magazine=[[Electronic News]]|date=1995-11-06|access-date=2024-08-24|volume=41|issue=2090|page=84}}</ref><ref name=GS-Glide>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/3dfx-open-sources-glide/1100-2447156/|title=3dfx Open Sources Glide|last=Ajami|first=Amer|work=[[GameSpot]]|date=1999-12-06|access-date=2024-08-28|archive-date=December 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205083752/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/3dfx-open-sources-glide/1100-2447156/|url-status=live}}</ref> Wide adoption of 3Dfx led to Glide being extensively used in the late 1990s, but further refinement of Microsoft's [[Direct3D]] and the appearance of full [[OpenGL]] implementations from other [[graphics card]] vendors, in addition to growing diversity in 3D hardware, eventually caused it to become superfluous.<ref name=GS-Glide/>

== Glide wrappers and emulators ==
Glide emulator development has been in progress since the late 1990s. During 3dfx's lifetime, the company was aggressive at trying to stop these attempts to emulate their proprietary API, shutting down early emulation projects with legal threats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/04/08/3dfx_wraps_up_wrapper_web/|title=3dfx wraps up wrapper Web sites|publisher=The Register|date=April 8, 1999|access-date=August 10, 2017|archive-date=August 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810092147/https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/04/08/3dfx_wraps_up_wrapper_web/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, just before it ceased operations and had its assets purchased by [[Nvidia]], 3dfx released the Glide API, along with the Voodoo 2 and Voodoo 3 specifications, under an open source license,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/12/07/3dfx_open_sources_glide_voodoo/|title=3dfx open sources Glide, Voodoo 2 and 3 specs|website=[[The Register]]|access-date=2017-08-10|archive-date=2019-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228221725/https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/12/07/3dfx_open_sources_glide_voodoo/|url-status=live}}</ref> which later evolved into an open source project.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sourceforge.net/projects/glide/|title=Glide for 3dfx hardware|date=3 April 2013|access-date=20 April 2010|archive-date=13 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113002032/http://sourceforge.net/projects/glide/|url-status=live}}</ref> 

== See also ==
* [[Vulkan (API)]]
* [[3dfx Interactive]]
* [[MiniGL]]
* [[Mantle (API)]] – another low-level API

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://glide.sourceforge.net/ Glide SourceForge Project] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208184740/http://glide.sourceforge.net/ |date=2012-02-08 }}
* [http://www.gamers.org/dEngine/xf3D/glide/glidepgm.htm GLIDE programming manual] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402055539/http://www.gamers.org/dEngine/xf3D/glide/glidepgm.htm |date=2012-04-02 }}
* [http://www.sierrahelp.com/Utilities/DisplayUtilities/GlideWrappers.html Glide Wrappers List] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126035813/http://www.sierrahelp.com/Utilities/DisplayUtilities/GlideWrappers.html |date=2012-01-26 }}
* [http://www.opengl.org/documentation OpenGL Documentation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115133716/http://www.opengl.org/documentation |date=2012-01-15 }}

{{3dfx Graphics Processors}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Glide Api}}
[[Category:3D computer graphics]]
[[Category:3D graphics APIs]]
[[Category:3dfx Interactive]]
[[Category:Application programming interfaces]]
[[Category:Cross-platform free software]]
[[Category:Free 3D graphics software]]
[[Category:Graphics libraries]]
[[Category:Video game development software]]