Install OpenGL on Ubuntu in WSL

opengl-in-wsl.md

How to Install OpenGL in Ubuntu in WSL2

These steps have been tested on Windows 10 with WSL2 running Ubuntu.

1. Dependencies

First install the dependencies:

apt install mesa-utils libglu1-mesa-dev freeglut3-dev mesa-common-dev

There are more than we need, but also include GLut and Glu libraries to link aginst during compilation for application development (these can be removed if that functionality is not required).

2. Window Server

Installing

Then, you will need to setup a window server. Windows 11 should have this built in and work out of the box (skip to step 3). In Windows 10 you will need to install one VcXsrv is a popular option (also known as XLaunch).

Configuration

Once installed, then you will need to make a configuration. You want the following settings:

• First Screen: Multi-Window, Display=0

• Second Screen: Start No Client

• Third Screen: Clipboard=True, Primary Selection=True, Native OpenGL=False, Disable Access Control=True

I recomend you save your configuration file somewhere so that each time you start you window server you can open it instead of rebuilding it. Then start your window server.

WSL Display

Once you have setup and started your Window server, you need to tell Ubuntu/WSL where your display is, we can do this by running the following command:

export DISPLAY=$(awk '/nameserver / {print $2; exit}' /etc/resolv.conf 2>/dev/null):0
export LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT=0

You will need to do this for every new shell you open. Alternatively, you can add this to your .bashrc file to have your shell do it for you an start up.

3. Running a Test

After the following configuration you should be able to run the test application below and see some multi-colored gears spinning:

glxgears

I got this window

I got also this flickering window when I ran an application from within Ubuntu/wsl