Mesa 26.0.0 Feature Release Announced
The Mesa 3D graphics library has been updated to version 26.0.0. The update introduces opensource support for Vulkan 1.4 and OpenGL 4.6 and OpenGL ES 3.2 and OpenCL 3.0 as its primary feature set. The update introduces new macOS driver support along with multiple driver enhancements for better performance.
The current release delivers its most significant improvements to AMD users through enhanced performance and better code generation capabilities.
- RADV Raytracing The Radeon Vulkan driver (RADV) features significant raytracing performance improvements compared to version 25.3.
- Environment Variables Several deprecated RADV_DEBUG options (invariantgeom, nodynamicbounds, nongg_gs, and splitfma) have been removed. Users must now use the corresponding driconf variables.
- RadeonSI ACO The RadeonSI driver now uses the ACO compiler by default. This change will deliver faster ISA code generation and better GPU performance and shorter compilation times.
Mesa 26.0.0 introduces KosmicKrisp, a new layered driver that translates Vulkan commands to the Metal API. The new feature enables Mesa to work with Apple hardware through its specific focus on macOS support.
The release introduces new extensions throughout the driver stack which enhance PowerVR and Panfrost and NVK and HoneyKrisp compatibility.
- Maintenance Extensions VK_KHR_maintenance10 is now supported on ANV, NVK, and RADV. The drivers (anv, hk, lvp, nvk, radv, tu, v3dv, vn) have almost completed their support for VK_KHR_surface_maintenance1 and VK_KHR_swapchain_maintenance1.
- Shader Features VK_EXT_shader_uniform_buffer_unsized_array is available on ANV, HK, NVK, and RADV.
- Panvk (Panfrost Vulkan) New support for external memory acquisition, device memory reports, and sparse residency features on newer hardware versions.
- NVK (NVIDIA Vulkan) Support for discard rectangles and maintenance extensions.
- PowerVR The system now supports dynamic rendering and incremental present and XCB/Xlib surfaces.
Users should report their version 26.0.0 issues to the Mesa GitLab issue tracker. The bugfix release will be available in about two weeks after the current date.
