Dissecting the Apple M1 GPU, the end
15 days ago
- #Linux
- #OpenSource
- #GPU
- Apple released the M1 chip in 2020 with a custom GPU, prompting efforts to reverse-engineer and port Linux to M1 and M2 Macs.
- Hector Martin initiated Asahi Linux in December 2020, leading to collaboration with open-source maintainers to develop GPU drivers.
- Initial progress included drawing a triangle, a foundational step in 3D graphics, followed by developing a shader compiler.
- By December 2022, Asahi Linux shipped with graphics acceleration, thanks to kernel and userspace driver development.
- The developer transitioned from working on Panfrost (Arm Mali GPU driver) to focusing on gaming on Linux for M1 Macs.
- Achievements include OpenGL 3.1, OpenGL ES 3.1 conformance, and later full OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4 support.
- Implemented geometry/tessellation shader emulation, enabling Direct3D compatibility via Proton for gaming.
- Karol Herbst contributed by achieving OpenCL 3.0 conformance on M1, enhancing the ecosystem.
- The project concluded with conformant Vulkan 1.4, sparse texture support for Direct3D 12, and successful Proton gaming.
- The developer steps away from the Apple ecosystem, leaving the Asahi Linux community to continue the work.