v0.13.0

Changes in this release

• Directory structure overhaul (!)
  • Sub-projects are much more stand alone and are buildable as individual projects
• Update to latest ANARI SDK v0.15.0
• RTX Device improvements:
  • Add experimental support for neural geometry primitives (VISRTX_USE_NEURAL)
    • See README for more details
  • Much improved shading quality for the default renderer:
    • Improvements to bounces caused by both physicallyBased and mdl materials
    • Implemented basic importance sampling for HDRI lights to reduce noise
    • Lights now follow an inverse-square falloff
    • Support for new lights:
      • Sphere (point lights with a radius)
      • KHR_LIGHT_QUAD
      • KHR_LIGHT_RING
    • Support new KHR_SAMPLER_IMAGE_CLAMPxD_TO_BORDER extension for additional image sampler wrap mode
    • Support the visible flag on ANARISurface and ANARIVolume
  • Fixed issues blending with the background correctly
  • Updates for building with CUDA 13+
  • Various performance + bug fixes
• GL Device improvements:
  • Fix image3D sampler not working correctly
  • Compilation fixes for newer compilers
• TSD improvements (far too many to itemize here):
  • Manjor sub-library refactoring + feature consolidation
  • Many new importers
  • Many UI improvements
  • Various new demo applications
  • Various performance improvements + stability fixes

Merged PRs

• Add Neural Graphics Primitive by @favreau in #128
• Added support for volumes in USD import by @favreau in #130
• Add transfer function import/export support by @favreau in #131
• Fix older platforms with neural disabled by @tarcila in #133
• Fix compilation with gcc-12 by @tarcila in #134
• Mdl physically based by @tarcila in #127
• CUDA physicallyBased material improvements by @jeffamstutz in #136
• HDRI environment importance sampling by @tarcila in #137
• Fix VTU import of cell-centric data by @szellmann in #139
• complete overhaul to TSD library structure by @jeffamstutz in #142
• Added screenshot implementation by @favreau in #143
• Improved shading, adding transmission and fake emission support by @tarcila in #144
• Update AMR field and FLASH importer to use refinementRatio, and data … by @szellmann in #145
• Add a new GLTF importer by @tarcila in #146
• Support anisotropy in TSD by @szellmann in #147
• TSD-ASSIMP: Fix clearcoat and sheer not being assign correctly by @tarcila in #149
• Gltf iridescence ior by @tarcila in #150
• Prevent crash when CUDA-OpenGL interopt is not available by @tarcila in #151
• Enables focus on right click so that right-click-drag works with prior left-click by @tarcila in #152
• Misc fixes by @tarcila in #153
• usd-export: Add support for transforms and materials by @tarcila in #156
• Misc enhancements by @tarcila in #158
• Add support for clampToBorder on ImageXD samplers by @tarcila in #159
• Add tonemap renderer parameter by @tarcila in #161
• Fix blending with background color by @tarcila in #160
• Added handling for empty blocks by @apaaris in #162
• reorganize rtx device folder structure by @jeffamstutz in #163
• MDL fixes by @tarcila in #164
• TSD: Add support for camera objects by @tarcila in #165
• TSD: Introduce CameraUpdateDelegate to track for database camera changes by @tarcila in #166
• Tsd animation and usd improvements by @tarcila in #167
• TSD: [USD] original prim paths on imported objects by @tarcila in #170
• Tsd importer improvements by @tarcila in #171
• Tsd usd improvements by @tarcila in #172
• fixed finding of EmbedPTXRun.cmake by @ingowald in #173
• Fix build with CUDA 13 by @tarcila in #174
• Save our NVDB loader from duplicating the dataset on load by @tarcila in #175
• Add VisRTX build to the CI by @tarcila in #169
• Fix mismatching importer dialog list by @tarcila in #177
• enable animation state I/O for animated values by @jeffamstutz in #179
• Update VisRTX build workflow to trigger on PR and push to next_release by @tarcila in #180
• Add Transform manipulators/Gizmos to TSD main viewport by @tarcila in #178
• Workaround outline not being rendered on double-click-to-select by @tarcila in #181
• Add support for importing SILO files by @jeffamstutz in #183
• Gizmo: Handle transform hierarchies by @tarcila in #182
• Add support for AOV (albedo, normal) visualization, misc enhancements by @tarcila in #184

New Contributors

• @ingowald made their first contribution in #173

Full Changelog: v0.12.0...v0.13.0

v0.12.0

Changes in this release

• Update to latest ANARI SDK v0.14.0
  • Use new SDL3 based anari_viewer infrastructure for TSD
  • Use new core extensions which replace obsolete VISRTX_ specific versions where applicable
• Added OptiX/driver version validation checks on RTX device initialization
• Various improvements to (experimental) MDL materials in RTX device
• Removed old visrtxViewer app (use tsdViewer instead)
• TSD improvements:
  • Added built-in application state serialization (replaces/deprecates conduit import/export)
  • Removed obsolete applications (tsdMaterialExplorer and tsdVolumeViewer), as tsdViewer can now do everything those did
  • Added support for multiple named "layers" to better organize scenes
  • Added import support for Haystack mesh files (.hsmesh)
  • Added initial support for importing OpenUSD files
  • Added mesh tangents, lights, and more material parameters in assimp importer
  • Added ability to defragment + cleanup used objects within a TSD context (reduce memory usage + faster state file I/O)
  • Many usability updates for UI
  • Various bug fixes

Merged PRs

• Parse lights with assimp by @szellmann in #112
• Import sheen parameters by @szellmann in #113
• Misc CUDA and GLM related code cleanups by @tarcila in #115
• Misc changes by @tarcila in #118
• Compute MikkT tangent space for assimp models by @szellmann in #119
• Don't divide by zero by @szellmann in #120
• Adding USD data import by @apaaris in #121
• Instancing, extension above UsdGeomMesh by @jeffamstutz in #123
• Fix broken handling of actual grid dimension #117 by @tarcila in #124
• tsd: Link with USD using ${PXR_LIBRARIES} by @tarcila in #125
• Mdl support for ANARI samplers and more by @tarcila in #126

Full Changelog: v0.11.0...v0.12.0

v0.11.0

Changes in this release

• Update to latest ANARI SDK v0.13.1
• Added RTX device support for core extensions:
  • KHR_LIGHT_HDRI (only used in background)
  • KHR_LIGHT_SPOT
  • EXT_SAMPLER_COMPRESSED_IMAGE2D
  • EXT_SAMPLER_COMPRESSED_FORMAT_BC123
  • EXT_SAMPLER_COMPRESSED_FORMAT_BC45
• RTX device now automatically downloads OptiX headers, removing the requirement for them to already be installed
  • Versions 7.7-9.0 can be used via the OPTIX_FETCH_VERSION CMake variable
• Renamed CUDA interop extensions to more generic names (for use in other devices)
  • VISRTX_ARRAY_CUDA --> NV_ARRAY_CUDA
  • VISRTX_CUDA_OUTPUT_BUFFERS --> NV_FRAME_BUFFERS_CUDA
• RTX device bug fixes:
  • Fixed incorrect + incomplete impementation of transferFunction1D volume parameters
  • Fixed various thread safety issues when rendering frames and querying world bounds simultaneously from different threads
• Fix GL device incorrectly reading back FLOAT32_VEC4 frame buffer data on map
• TSD improvements:
  • New file importers (PDB .ent files, SWC, XYZ, and MHD volumes)
  • New animated particles demo app to showcase CUDA interop driving sphere positions
  • Many UI additions + improvements to allow more parameter/object editing for better testing
  • Various robustness bug fixes

Merged PRs

• Various build fixes for Windows by @kvankooten in #97
• Added SWC importer by @favreau in #98
• Add cool2warm color map by @szellmann in #99
• Compile fix by @szellmann in #101
• Mdl enhanced support by @tarcila in #102
• Add omnidirectional camera option to TSD viewport by @szellmann in #104
• Misc fixes by @tarcila in #106
• Add support for compressed textures to VisRTX and enable DDS loading in TSD by @tarcila in #107
• Added support for MHD volumes by @favreau in #108
• Added PDB importer for proteins (-pdb command line argument) by @favreau in #109

New Contributors

• @kvankooten made their first contribution in #97
• @favreau made their first contribution in #98

Full Changelog: v0.10.1...v0.11.0

v0.10.1

Changes in this release

• Fix GPU memory leaking array data in some cases

Full Changelog: v0.10.0...v0.10.1

v0.10.0

Changes in this release

• Update to latest ANARI SDK v0.12.0
• Added new RTX device-specific extensions (see readme for more information):
  • VISRTX_ARRAY_CUDA: Permits using CUDA device pointers in shared ANARI arrays
    • Currently only tested with spatial fields, but more robust support will come in future releases as-needed
  • VISRTX_INSTANCE_ATTRIBUTES: Uniform attributes can be set on ANARIInstance objects, which overrides any found on relevant geometries below it in the scene hierarchy
  • VISRTX_SPATIAL_FIELD_NANOVDB: nanovdb is now an available ANARISpatialField subtype
  • (optionally built) VISRTX_MATERIAL_MDL: preliminary support for using MDL materials via the mdl ANARIMaterial subtype
    • Note this is still very experimental and is expected to improve in future releases
• Other RTX device improvements and bug fixes:
  • Added support for KHR_INSTANCE_TRANSFORM_ARRAY
  • Added support for KHR_SAMPLER_IMAGE3D
  • Fixes in the RTX device for race conditions when using the device in parallel from multiple threads
  • Fixed incorrect depth buffer values in some cases
• Introduce new sample application (TSD) infrastructure for more complete/robust ANARI application testing
  • Can be built alongside the devices (enabled with VISRTX_BUILD_TSD=ON in CMake), or building as a stand alone project
  • Existing example applications are now deprecated in favor of TSD
  • TSD is considered a generic ANARI framework and is expected to be usable with any ANARI device
  • TSD is currently only built as a static library and is not an installable component, external projects that want to build on it are expected to add_subdirectory() the tsd/ folder. Making TSD installable may come in a future release if enough demand for it exists.
  • While TSD is mostly undocumented, future releases will slowly add more documentation as architecture/design stabilizes

New Contributors

• @tarcila made their first contribution in #78

Full Changelog: v0.9.0...v0.10.0

v0.9.0

Changes in this release

• Update to latest ANARI SDK v0.10.0
• RTX device improvements:
  • Allow serial/parallel shader compilation as a build option
  • Minimize BLAS (ANARIGroup) rebuilds when they are not necessary
  • Support opacity in dpt renderer
  • Tweaked ao + raycast renderers to be more unique compared to the default renderer
  • Fix missing DoF in reported extensions
  • Various minor performance improvements
• GL device improvements:
  • Add experimental support for compressed textures:
    • EXT_SAMPLER_COMPRESSED_IMAGE2D
    • EXT_SAMPLER_COMPRESSED_FORMAT_ATC
    • EXT_SAMPLER_COMPRESSED_FORMAT_BC123
    • EXT_SAMPLER_COMPRESSED_FORMAT_BC45
    • EXT_SAMPLER_COMPRESSED_FORMAT_BC67
    • EXT_SAMPLER_COMPRESSED_FORMAT_ETC
    • EXT_SAMPLER_COMPRESSED_FORMAT_EAC
  • Fix various bugs

Full Changelog: v0.8.0...v0.9.0

v0.8.0

Changes in this release

• Update to latest ANARI SDK v0.9.0
• RTX device improvements:
  • Added new faceVarying attribute extension for triangle geometry (VISRTX_TRIANGLE_FACE_VARYING_ATTRIBUTES)
  • Added support for uniform geometry attributes for all geometry subtypes (VISRTX_UNIFORM_ATTRIBUTES)
  • Added support for KHR_FRAME_COMPLETION_CALLBACK
  • Added support depth of field parameters on perspective cameras
  • Added progressive shadow/AO attenuation for objects with transparent
  • Added basic support for metallic and roughness parameters on the physicallyBased material
  • Removed dependency on bin2c for embedding OptiX PTX
  • Added experimental support for triangle back face culling as a renderer and/or geometry parameter
  • Fixed incorrect parameter name used for the spatial field on transferFunction1D volumes (field -> value)
  • Fixed crash when OptiX fails to initialize successfully
• GL device improvements:
  • Fixed bugs when building + running on Windows
  • Fixed bug where back face culling potentially caused nothing to be drawn
• Allow older versions of CMake (new minimum is 3.17)

Full Changelog: v0.7.1...v0.8.0

v0.7.1

Changes in this release

• Use CMAKE_CUDA_ARCHITECTURES if set explicitly
• Fix assert() incorrectly triggering in debug builds
• Workaround issue embedding PTX in some cases

Full Changelog: v0.7.0...v0.7.1

v0.7.0

Changes in this release

• Added RTX device support for additional extensions:
  • KHR_FRAME_CHANNEL_PRIMITIVE_ID
  • KHR_FRAME_CHANNEL_OBJECT_ID
  • KHR_FRAME_CHANNEL_INSTANCE_ID
  • KHR_DEVICE_SYNCHRONIZATION
  • KHR_FRAME_ACCUMULATION (already present, but extension query was missing)
• RTX device rendering/ANARI correctness fixes:
  • Fixed incorrect use of in/out sampler transforms
  • Fixed incorrect sphere shadows when instanced
  • Updated missing/incorrect parameters
  • Improved cylinder/cone intersectors
  • Fixed incorrect sampling position for structuredRegular fields
  • Fixed crash when no GPU is available to be used during initialization
• RTX device runtime robustness fixes:
  • Fixed crash in RTX device under certain conditions when ANARIGroup contents were changed
  • Multi-threaded OptiX module creation on Linux to speed up device initialization
  • Use new helium array implementation from ANARI-SDK in RTX device
• GL device improvements:
  • Updated queries to match latest SDK JSONs
  • Compile fixes for Windows
  • Add support for linear depth per-ANARI specification
  • Better GLES compatibility
• CMake fixes:
  • Invoke visrtxCompileShaders after installation to ensure the right version is precompiled
  • Misc robustness improvements
• Various minor viewer improvements

Accepted Pull Requests

• Normalize light dir by @aumuell in #57
• cmake: fix exporting with VISRTX_USE_SOVERSION by @mathstuf in #58
• Cmake fixes by @mathstuf in #59
• implement prim/obj/inst ID buffers in visrtx by @jeffamstutz in #65
• parallelize OptiX module creation by @jeffamstutz in #66

New Contributors

• @aumuell made their first contribution in #57

Full Changelog: v0.6.1...v0.7.0

v0.6.1

Changes in this release:

• Windows compatibility fixes for visgl
• Fix visrtx crash when releasing the device without it being initialized
• Relax ANARI-SDK version EXACT requirement