Re: KiCad: "Could not use OpenGL, falling back to software rendering"

[Tobias Nygren <tnn%NetBSD.org@localhost>]

On Sat, 28 Sep 2024 15:49:36 -0500
Ted Spradley <tsprad%talent-free-studios.com@localhost> wrote:

> I'm trying to start using KiCad 8.0.2 from the packages, but when I try
> to open a schematic I started with KiCad 7 up pops a modal dialog box
> with the message in the title above. That line is followed by "Could
> not create the main OpenGL context" and an OK button. Clicking on the
> OK button, or the X in the northeast corner of the dialog box, or the
> one in the corner of the main KiCad window all do nothing, but "pkill
> kicad" works.
> 
> set$ uname -a
> NetBSD set 10.0_STABLE NetBSD 10.0_STABLE (GENERIC) #0: Wed Jul  3
> 19:16:46 UTC 2024
> mkrepro%mkrepro.NetBSD.org@localhost:/usr/src/sys/arch/amd64/compile/GENERIC
> amd64 set$ 
> 
> For X11 I just add "xdm=YES xfs=YES" to rc.conf and use ctwm "right out
> of the box". The machine is an old ThinkPad T440s with an Intel i915
> that I've been using like this for years.

KiCad accelerated rendering is quite finicky and might need some OpenGL
extensions you don't have. Software rendering should perform OKish on
your hardware if the schematics aren't too complicated. Note that you
have to change the setting in both the Schematic Editor and PCB Editor.

From the main dialog, before opening any drawings, go to
Preferences->Preferences and set Rendering Engine to Fallback Graphics
for all editors. You can find it under Display Options.

Kind regards,
-Tobias