virtualgl
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Description:
3D without boundaries
Type: Cask  |  Latest Version: 3.1.4@0  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Developer tools
Tags: opengl remote-desktop 3d-graphics gpu visualization
Install: brew install --cask virtualgl
About:
VirtualGL is an open-source toolkit that enables high-performance 3D applications to be rendered remotely on a server and displayed locally. It intercepts OpenGL commands and redirects them to a server-side GPU, streaming the resulting pixels to the client. This allows users to run complex 3D software on powerful back-end hardware from a lightweight client machine.
Key Features:
  • Transparent application redirection without source code modification
  • Efficient image streaming using advanced compression techniques
  • Full support for OpenGL and GLX extensions
  • Integrates with VirtualGL Faker for seamless operation
Use Cases:
  • Running CAD or scientific visualization software remotely
  • Enabling GPU-accelerated applications on virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
Alternatives:
  • X11 Forwarding – Simpler to set up but lacks hardware acceleration, resulting in poor performance for 3D workloads.
  • NoMachine NX – A full remote desktop solution that includes 3D acceleration but is a heavier, more monolithic system.
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