Show HN: HORenderer3: A C++ software renderer implementing OpenGL 3.3 pipeline
zghdls Saturday, January 17, 2026
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share a personal project I've been working on: a GL-like 3D software renderer inspired by the OpenGL 3.3 Core Specification.
The main goal was to better understand GPU behavior and rendering pipelines by building a virtual GPU layer entirely in software. This includes VRAM-backed resource handling, pipeline state management, and shader execution flow.
The project also exposes an OpenGL-style API and driver layer based on the official OpenGL Registry headers, allowing rendering code to be written in a way that closely resembles OpenGL usage.
I'd really appreciate any feedback.
Summary
The article describes the development of HORenderer3, a real-time rendering engine that supports advanced features like physically-based rendering, Virtual Reality support, and cross-platform compatibility. The engine is designed to be lightweight and highly customizable, making it suitable for a wide range of applications, from game development to architectural visualization.
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github.com