Name
gl.GetString -- return a string describing the current GL connection
Synopsis
string = gl.GetString(name)
Function
gl.GetString() returns a pointer to a static string describing some aspect of the current GL connection. name can be one of the following:

#GL_VENDOR
Returns the company responsible for this GL implementation. This name does not change from release to release.

#GL_RENDERER
Returns the name of the renderer. This name is typically specific to a particular configuration of a hardware platform. It does not change from release to release.

#GL_VERSION
Returns a version or release number.

#GL_EXTENSIONS
Returns a space-separated list of supported extensions to GL.

Because the GL does not include queries for the performance characteristics of an implementation, some applications are written to recognize known platforms and modify their GL usage based on known performance characteristics of these platforms. Strings #GL_VENDOR and #GL_RENDERER together uniquely specify a platform. They do not change from release to release and should be used by platform-recognition algorithms.

Some applications want to make use of features that are not part of the standard GL. These features may be implemented as extensions to the standard GL. The #GL_EXTENSIONS string is a space-separated list of supported GL extensions. (Extension names never contain a space character.)

The #GL_VERSION string begins with a version number. The version number uses one of these forms:

 
<major_number>.<minor_number>
<major_number>.<minor_number>.<release_number>

Vendor-specific information may follow the version number. Its format depends on the implementation, but a space always separates the version number and the vendor-specific information.

The client and server may support different versions or extensions. gl.GetString() always returns a compatible version number or list of extensions. The release number always describes the server.

Please consult an OpenGL reference manual for more information.

Inputs
name
specifies a symbolic constant (see above for possible values)
Results
string
string describing the current GL connection
Errors
#GL_INVALID_ENUM is generated if name is not an accepted value.

#GL_INVALID_OPERATION is generated if gl.GetString() is executed between the execution of gl.Begin() and the corresponding execution of gl.End() .

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