Troubleshooting OpenGL Shader Compilation Issues on Ubuntu 16.04

As an OpenGL developer, you've probably encountered the frustration of dealing with shader compilation errors at some point or another. Unfortunately, these issues can be particularly challenging when working with Linux-based systems like Ubuntu 16.04. In this article, we'll explore a common error that many developers face and provide steps to resolve it.

The Issue: GLSL 4.50 Not Supported

When attempting to compile a vertex shader, you may encounter the following error message:

`Failed to compile vertex shader! Į:1(10): error: GLSL 4.50 is not supported.`

This error can be particularly puzzling, especially if your shader code seems correct and you've adjusted the version in the shader file without success.

Understanding the Problem

The issue lies with the OpenGL vendor string, which is reported as `Intel Open Source Technology Center`. This is a common occurrence when working with Intel graphics cards on Linux systems. The Mesa DRI driver, used by default on Ubuntu 16.04, only supports up to GLSL 3.30.

Solution: Downgrading GLSL Version

To resolve this issue, you'll need to downgrade your shader's GLSL version to a supported level. Open your shader file and look for the following line:

`#version 450`

Replace it with:

`#version 330`

This will instruct your shader compiler to use GLSL 3.30 instead of 4.50.

Additional Tips

If you're still experiencing issues after downgrading your shader's GLSL version, here are a few additional troubleshooting steps you can try:

* Verify that your OpenGL renderer string is accurate by running `glxinfo` with the following command: `sudo glxinfo | grep 'OpenGL'`.

* Check for any conflicts between your graphics drivers and ensure they're properly installed and configured.

* Consider updating your Ubuntu version to a newer release, as some issues may be resolved in later versions.

In this article, we've addressed a common issue that many OpenGL developers face when working with Ubuntu 16.04. By understanding the problem and downgrading your shader's GLSL version, you should be able to resolve the `GLSL 4.50 is not supported` error and continue developing your project without any issues.

Nomachine ubuntu 16.04