Canvas 3d JS Library

The first step for building applications using our library is to get the appropriate browser and download the canvas 3d add-on for it. Currently there may still be issues with different hardware/software platforms combinations. The tutorial was tested on both a Macbook Pro with an nvidea 8600 video card and a PC with an ati xtx1900 video card.

Downloading and Installing

The current canvas 3d add-on (may 28th release) will work with  Firefox 3 release candidate 2. The add-on might work with older versions of firefox 3 beta but you would likely have to edit the install.rtf for compatibility. Nightly minefield builds after April 29 may also work. Once you have an appropriate browser, the add-on can be installed in the same manner as any other add-on. The canvas 3d add-on is available from addons.mozilla.org . The add-on is considered experimental so you will need to log in to get it. In the current version of the add-on, the user can enable canvas 3d for each site as they deem fit much like allowing pop-up windows from different sites.  In older versions of canvas 3d, the add-on is enabled or disabled via a checkbox in the canvas 3d options for all sites.  Below is a screenshot of what happens when you visit a site containing a canvas 3d element for the first time.  Click the “Allow” button and it will add the site to the list of allowed sites for the addon.

Testing

To test to see if it is working go to: http://people.mozilla.org/~vladimir/canvas3d/examples/simple/simple.html. If it is working you will see a square with changing colors. This simple example of canvas uses the moz-gles11 context. To test to see an example of using the moz-gles2.0 context, try: http://people.mozilla.org/~vladimir/canvas3d/examples/simple/simple20.html (will see a box with a triangle) or http://people.mozilla.org/~vladimir/canvas3d/examples/modelview/ModelView.html (will show a teapot in a canvas that you can spin around)

Problems and solutions

The current add-on download does seem to install properly with the Firefox 3 . In the past there were problems with installing the add-on due to versioning issues. If there is a complaint about compatibility, you can modify the version compatibility in the install.rtf file. It is also possible that the video card is unable to support the gl function calls needed. The open gl extension viewer can help you determine if your video card can support the function calls needed for the extension to work. Install and run this viewer to test the open gl support for your video card. To support the moz-gles11 context, your video card will have to pass the tests of core features up to and including those for 1.5. To support moz-gles20 context, your video card will have to pass the tests of core features up to and including those for 2.1. If your video card does not pass all the tests, try updating the video card drivers.