# GLFW

> utility library for use with OpenGL

**Wikidata**: [Q11860238](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11860238)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLFW)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/glfw

## Summary
GLFW (Graphics Library Framework) is a free software utility library and application programming interface (API) specifically designed for use with OpenGL. It provides a cross-platform framework for developers to manage windows, handle input, and create OpenGL contexts across various operating systems.

## Key Facts
- **Full Name/Alias:** Graphics Library Framework.
- **Classification:** Free software library and application programming interface (API).
- **License:** zlib License.
- **Supported Platforms:** Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD.
- **Latest Stable Version:** 3.2.1 (released August 18, 2016).
- **Official Website:** https://www.glfw.org/.
- **Source Repository:** Hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/glfw/glfw.
- **Development Tools:** Utilizes Travis CI for continuous integration and GitHub for issue tracking.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of GLFW?
A: GLFW is a utility library used as an application programming interface (API) for OpenGL. It handles system-specific tasks like window creation and input management so developers can focus on graphics programming.

### Q: Is GLFW open-source?
A: Yes, GLFW is classified as free software and is distributed under the terms of the zlib License. This allows users to freely run, study, change, and distribute the software or modified versions of it.

### Q: Which operating systems can run GLFW?
A: GLFW is cross-platform and supports Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD. It is also available through various package managers including Homebrew, Chocolatey, and the Arch Linux User Repository (AUR).

## Why It Matters
GLFW is a foundational tool in the graphics programming ecosystem, serving as a bridge between the OpenGL API and the underlying operating system. By providing a consistent, cross-platform interface for windowing and input, it eliminates the need for developers to write platform-specific code for Windows, macOS, or Linux. Its distribution under the zlib License makes it highly accessible for both open-source and commercial applications. The library's integration into nearly every major package management system—from Arch Linux and Gentoo to macOS Homebrew—underscores its status as a standard utility for modern graphics development.

## Notable For
- **Broad Platform Support:** Compatible with major operating systems including FreeBSD (since 1993), Windows (since 1985), and macOS (since 2001).
- **Extensive Distribution:** Available through a wide array of package managers such as MacPorts, Gentoo (media-libs/glfw), OpenBSD ports, and SlackBuilds.
- **Robust Quality Assurance:** Employs continuous integration practices via Travis CI to maintain software quality.
- **Global Reach:** Documentation and information are maintained across 11 different language editions of Wikipedia, including English, Spanish, French, and Korean.

## Body

### Technical Overview and Licensing
GLFW is an application programming interface (API) and software library designed to facilitate OpenGL development. It is categorized as free software, meaning it is distributed under terms that permit users to run, study, and modify the code. The library is released under the zlib License and maintains a copyrighted status.

### Version History
The library has seen several stable releases with documented publication dates:
- **Version 3.0 series:** Versions 3.0, 3.0.1, 3.0.2, 3.0.3, and 3.0.4 were all recorded with a publication date of August 7, 2016.
- **Version 3.1 series:** Version 3.1 was released on March 10, 2015, followed by version 3.1.1 on March 19, 2015, and 3.1.2 on October 12, 2015.
- **Version 3.2 series:** Version 3.2 was released on June 2, 2016, and version 3.2.1 was released on August 18, 2016.

### Platform and Package Integration
GLFW is highly portable and integrated into numerous operating system environments:
- **Unix-like Systems:** Supported on FreeBSD (graphics/glfw), OpenBSD, and various Linux distributions.
- **Linux Packages:** Available as `glfw-wayland` and `glfw-x11` on Arch Linux, and `media-libs/glfw` on Gentoo.
- **Windows and macOS:** Supported via the Chocolatey community package (`glfw3`) for Windows and Homebrew or MacPorts for macOS.
- **Specialized Builds:** The Arch Linux User Repository (AUR) provides several variants, including `glfw-wayland-git` and `lib32-glfw-x11`.

### Development and Infrastructure
The project's development is centered on GitHub, which hosts its source code repository and issue tracker. The library is written in the programming language associated with Wikidata ID Q15777. To ensure software quality, the project utilizes continuous integration (CI) services, specifically Travis CI, to automate testing and builds.

## References

1. [2025](https://github.com/EvanLi/Github-Ranking/blob/master/Data/github-ranking-2025-07-06.csv)
2. [Source](http://sourceforge.net/projects/glfw/files/glfw/)
3. [Release 3.1.1. 2015](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.1.1)
4. [Source](http://sourceforge.net/projects/glfw/files/glfw/3.1.2/)
5. [Release 3.1.2. 2015](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.1.2)
6. [Release 3.2. 2016](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.2)
7. [Release 3.2.1. 2016](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.2.1)
8. [Release 3.0. 2016](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.0)
9. [Release 3.0.1. 2016](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.0.1)
10. [Release 3.0.2. 2016](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.0.2)
11. [Release 3.0.3. 2016](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.0.3)
12. [Release 3.0.4. 2016](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.0.4)
13. [Release 3.1. 2015](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.1)
14. [Release 3.3. 2019](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.3)
15. [Release 3.3.1. 2020](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.3.1)
16. [Release 3.3.2. 2020](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.3.2)
17. [Release 3.3.3. 2021](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.3.3)
18. [Release 3.3.4. 2021](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.3.4)
19. [Release 3.3.5. 2021](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.3.5)
20. [Release 3.3.6. 2021](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.3.6)
21. [Release 3.3.7. 2022](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.3.7)
22. [Release 3.3.8. 2022](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.3.8)
23. [Release 3.3.9. 2023](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.3.9)
24. [3.3.10. 2024](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.3.10)
25. [3.4. 2024](https://github.com/glfw/glfw/releases/tag/3.4)
26. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/glfw/glfw)
27. [Source](https://github.com/glfw/glfw)