1. History of WebGL development
In 2006, the history of WebGL can be traced back to around 2006, when a developer of the Mozilla Foundation, Vladimir Vukićević, began to try to embed OpenGL in the Firefox browser to provide support for the underlying graphics library for JavaScript. Subsequently, this project attracted the attention of the Khronos Group, who are the maintainers of the OpenGL standard, so the Khronos Group established a new working group dedicated to porting the OpenGL ES standard to WebGL. This working group consists of Mozilla, Google, Many companies and organizations including Opera participated.
In 2009, WebGL version 1.0 was released. Initially, WebGL support was mainly concentrated on Firefox and Chrome, but with the addition of Safari and Opera, WebGL has gradually become a cross-browser 3D graphics solution, attracting more and more developers and users.
In 2011, WebGL 1.0 officially became the standard of Khronos Group, and provided a complete WebGL specification and API documentation. Since then, WebGL has gradually gained more applications and support, and has become one of the important 3D graphics technologies on the Web.
In 2017, WebGL 2.0 was released. Based on the original specification, WebGL 2.0 adds many new features and improvements, such as more textures and rendering targets, more shader features, more efficient data transmission and better error handling, etc. The release of WebGL 2.0 brings higher performance and richer functions to 3D graphics applications on the Web.
2. Understand WebGL
Online preview of 3D model based on WebGL technology - very beautiful - increase learning motivation
WebGL is an OpenGL ES 2.0-based web technology that allows interactive 3D and 2D graphics to be rendered in the browser. WebGL takes advantage of the power of the GPU (graphics processing unit) and distributes graphics processing to the GPU, meaning it can render complex graphics faster. WebGL provides an interface to access the GPU through the JavaScript API, and users can use JavaScript to render images or use various libraries and frameworks to create animations, games and other interactive web content.
The advantages of WebGL include cross-platform, high efficiency, strong customizability, and open source, etc., which make it an ideal technology for creating a series of amazing interactive applications. However, it should be noted that in the process of using WebGL, it requires certain computer hardware and software support, as well as a certain understanding of OpenGL ES 2.0.
3. What knowledge does WebGL need to master
WebGL is a JavaScript-based API for creating interactive 3D graphics and animations that runs in a web browser. In order to master WebGL, the following knowledge is required:
1. The JavaScript programming language.
2. Basic knowledge of 3D graphics, such as coordinate system, matrix, shader and material, etc.
3. Basic usage of WebGL API, including creating canvases, shaders, programs, buffers, etc.
4. Understand the rendering process and pipeline of WebGL, including vertex processing, triangle clipping, lighting, texture mapping, etc.
5. Master the commonly used libraries and frameworks in WebGL programming, such as Three.js, Babylon.js, etc.
6. Familiar with browser debugging tools, able to view and debug the running status and performance problems of WebGL applications.
In addition, patience and practical ability are also required. Only through continuous practice and trial can we truly master WebGL programming skills and methods and develop excellent 3D special effects and animations.
4. The relationship between WebGL and three.js
WebGL is an underlying technology for rendering 3D graphics in the browser, and three.js is a JavaScript 3D graphics library based on WebGL.
In other words, three.js is a high-level wrapper of WebGL, which provides some convenient APIs and tools to make using WebGL easier and more efficient.
Using three.js makes it easier to create and display 3D scenes, create animations and interactive interfaces. Therefore, three.js is an application of WebGL, and WebGL is the underlying technology of three.js.
5. Fields of application
WebGL can be used in many fields, here are some examples:
1. Game development: WebGL can be used to create high-quality 3D games. Since it can be implemented in a web browser, users can play games without installing any plug-ins or software.
2. Data visualization: WebGL can help developers implement more efficient and interactive data visualization applications on the Web, such as maps, charts, flowcharts, etc.
3. Architecture and engineering: WebGL can help architects and engineers create 3D models for designing and simulating buildings and engineering structures.
4. Advertising and promotions: WebGL can be used to create rich and eye-catching advertisements, such as interactive product demonstrations and browser game advertisements.
5. Visual art: WebGL can be used to create artwork and digital exhibitions, such as exhibitions and virtual museums.
6. Virtual reality and augmented reality: WebGL can be used to create virtual reality and augmented reality applications, such as virtual tours and real-time guidance.
7. E-commerce: WebGL can be used to build immersive product displays, and users can rotate, zoom and view products to better understand them.
In short, the application fields of WebGL are very extensive. With the continuous development of technology, its application scenarios will continue to expand and deepen.
8. Education and training: WebGL can be used to create educational and training applications, such as simulators and virtual laboratories.
6. WebGL's hardware requirements
WebGL is hardware demanding because it needs to handle complex 3D graphics and rendering. The following are the minimum hardware requirements for WebGL:
Graphics card: Must support WebGL graphics API, including OpenGL ES 2.0 or above.
Memory: Should have at least 512MB of video memory and more than 4GB of system memory.
Processor: Should be at least a dual-core processor, preferably a quad-core processor or better.
Browser: Should be a modern browser that supports WebGL, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.
Note that for more advanced WebGL applications, higher system requirements are required. Also, if you're using low-end hardware or browsers, WebGL may experience slow performance or not work properly.
7. What learning materials are available in China
The following are some domestic WebGL learning websites:
1. WebGL Chinese website (http://www.hewebgl.com/): It is a leading WebGL learning website in China, providing WebGL introductory tutorials, practical cases, book recommendations and other resources.
2. webgl3d.cn (http://www.webgl3d.cn/): This website provides a wealth of WebGL tutorials and cases, including basic knowledge, renderers, models, animations, etc.
3. Front-end stew (https://www.html5rocks.com/zh/tutorials/webgl/webgl_fundamentals/): It is a front-end developer community that provides basic knowledge and practical experience about WebGL.
4. Netease Cloud Classroom (https://study.163.com/courses-search?keyword=webgl): It provides several video courses about WebGL, suitable for beginners and advanced students.
5. Mooc.com (https://www.imooc.com/search/?words=webgl): This website provides multiple video courses and practical projects about WebGL, suitable for beginners and advanced students.
6、Three.js（https://threejs.org/）
7、WebGL Academy（https://www.webglacademy.com/）
8. Browser support
9. Is it worth learning WebGL for front-end development?
Learning WebGL is beneficial for front-end developers. WebGL can help front-end developers build more interactive and innovative 3D applications such as games, virtual reality and augmented reality.
In addition, WebGL can also help front-end developers to better render and visualize data, such as maps, charts, and visual dashboards.
Therefore, learning WebGL can make front-end developers more competitive and provide them with richer skills and career development opportunities. However, it's important to note that learning WebGL requires knowledge of multiple technologies, such as JavaScript, OpenGL, and 3D math, so it can be complicated for beginners. Therefore, you need to decide whether to learn WebGL based on your interests, skills, and career development goals.