Mozilla Ships WebGPU in Firefox 141, Catching Up To Chrome's 2023 Launch (wordpress.com) 20
Mozilla will ship WebGPU support in Firefox 141 when the browser launches July 22, bringing graphics processing capabilities that Chrome users have had since 2023. The initial release supports Windows only, with Mac, Linux, and Android planned for the coming months.
WebGPU provides web content direct access to graphics processors for high-performance computation and rendering in games and complex 3D applications. Chrome gained WebGPU support with version 113 in 2023, while Safari 26 is expected to add the feature this fall. Firefox's implementation uses the WGPU Rust crate, which translates web requests into native commands for Direct3D 12, Metal, or Vulkan.
WebGPU provides web content direct access to graphics processors for high-performance computation and rendering in games and complex 3D applications. Chrome gained WebGPU support with version 113 in 2023, while Safari 26 is expected to add the feature this fall. Firefox's implementation uses the WGPU Rust crate, which translates web requests into native commands for Direct3D 12, Metal, or Vulkan.
Ugh (Score:3)
Re:Ugh (Score:5, Insightful)
As long as I can deny it the same way I can access to the microphone or camera, I'm happy about it.
Re:Ugh (Score:4, Interesting)
I'd say "doesn't want" is too strong... it'd be more accurate to say "couldn't care less" - at least for me.
Side note... I wonder if the same story submitter, posting about a hypothetical future version of Chrome that finally eliminates third-party cookies, would use phrasing like "finally giving Chrome users a small amount of improved privacy that Firefox and Safari users have enjoyed since 2015." I suspect not.
Re: (Score:2)
>"I wonder if the same story submitter, posting about a hypothetical future version of Chrome that finally eliminates third-party cookies, would use phrasing like "finally giving Chrome users a small amount of improved privacy that Firefox and Safari users have enjoyed since 2015." I suspect not."
^^^ THIS, exactly
In any case, I don't think I would have much use for WebGPU, myself.
Re: (Score:3)
Yeah, I feel like this should be a whole separate for-purpose browser product.
I assume this is just for game streaming.
This is just a whole new avenue for more browser fingerprinting techniques, as if we don't already have enough of those.
Re: (Score:3)
It already has that access through WebGL. WebGPU is the successor. It's based on an execution model similar to modern graphics APIs like Vulkan. It doesn't let you do anything you couldn't do before. It's just faster.
Re: (Score:2)
So, web games can support a higher level of graphics for those with a decent video card. Not that I care, but there was always the issue of "If Apple won't let me run whatever apps I want without going through their store, then a web app might be the way to go".
Re: (Score:1)
The OS doesn't matter any longer. (Score:3)
..when the browser is the OS.
Re: (Score:3)
Bill Gates was right to try and destroy it.
Re: (Score:2)
This is more like reinventing remote desktop access than the OS itself.
I'd rather not have to install a new local application for every single thing that's actually remote.
Anyone using this? (Score:2)
I can only find demo code. Is anyone using this now or working on anything?
Re: (Score:2)
Web browser based ai agents seem to be using it.
Re: (Score:2)
Thanks!
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Interesting. Thanks!
Is this compulsory or just optional (Score:2)
Do we get the choice on install?
Re: (Score:2)
I hope that there is a setting to let you turn it on/off, in the way that GPU acceleration is still something that can be turned off if your video drivers or graphics are garbage.
I wonder... (Score:2)
I use Jitsi twice a week. Its performance sucks in Firefox, with frequent video freezes and blackouts even if only one of the participants is using FF. But when everyone is on a Chrome-based browser, the frequency of problems is very much lower - probably by a factor of 10 or greater.
Any chance that WebGPU will make FF work better with Jitsi?
Right in time! (Score:2)