Apple has posted an update to its implementation of X11, the X Window System used by some Unix applications. The 51MB download is available from Apple’s Web site.
X11 makes it possible for Mac OS X to run Unix applications that haven’t been designed specifically to use Mac OS X’s graphics technology. Integrated with Mac OS X, X11 includes a server, window manager, libraries and basic components that X11-compatible Unix applications need to run.
This update to X11 addresses issues that makes it better able to handle GLX stereo visuals and offscreen rendering to GLX Pbuffers and Pixmaps, according to Apple.
GLX is an acronym for “OpenGL Extension to the X Window System,” and provides code needed to connect OpenGL — the graphics technology used by Mac OS X — and the X Window System itself. Because OpenGL computes 3D graphics, it can be used for stereoscopic 3D displays using certain graphics cards — of key importance in some industries such as biotechnology and CAD.
System requirements call for Mac OS X v10.4.8 or later and X11 1.1 or 1.1.1 to be installed.