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ZTE Communications ›› 2026, Vol. 24 ›› Issue (1): 97-106.DOI: 10.12142/ZTECOM.202601013

• Special Topic • Previous Articles    

Modern Graphics APIs: Design Principles, A Use Case, and New Perspectives

Lu Ping1,2, Sun Qi3(), Wang Chen3, Guo Jie3, Guo Yanwen3, Shi Wenzhe1,2   

  1. 1.State Key Laboratory of Mobile Network and Mobile Multimedia Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
    2.ZTE Corporation, Shenzhen 518057, China
    3.Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
  • Received:2024-06-26 Online:2026-03-17 Published:2026-03-17
  • About author:Lu Ping is the Vice President and Director of the R&D Project in the Technology Planning Department at ZTE Corporation. He also serves as Executive Deputy Director of the National Key Laboratory of Mobile Network and Mobile Multimedia Technology. His research directions include cloud computing, big data, augmented reality, and multimedia service-based technologies. He has contributed to major national science and technology projects and has published multiple papers and authored two books.
    Sun Qi (522023330087@smail.nju.edu.cn) is a master’s student in the Department of Computer Science and Technology at Nanjing University, China, affiliated with the Meta Graphics & 3D Vision Lab. His research interests include photorealistic rendering and high-performance real-time rendering.
    Wang Chen is a master’s student in the Department of Computer Science and Technology at Nanjing University, China, affiliated with the Meta Graphics & 3D Vision Lab. His research interests include real-time ray tracing and rendering software architecture.
    Guo Jie is an associate researcher at the Department of Computer Science and Technology, Nanjing University, China. He received his PhD from Nanjing University in 2013. His current research interests include computer graphics, virtual reality, and 3D vision. He has authored over 80 publications in leading international conferences (e.g., SIGGRAPH, SIGGRAPH Asia, CVPR, ICCV, ECCV, IEEE VR) and journals (e.g., ACM ToG, IEEE TVCG, IEEE TIP). He has developed several applications in illumination prediction, material prediction, and real-time rendering, which have been widely used in industry and achieved good economic and social benefits.
    Guo Yanwen is a Professor and PhD supervisor at Nanjing University, China. He was appointed as a PhD supervisor in July 2013 and as a Professor in December 2014. He is a recipient of the Jiangsu Province Outstanding Young Scientist Fund and a core member of the Department of Computer Science and Technology and the State Key Laboratory for Novel Software Technology at Nanjing University. He serves as Executive Director of the Nanjing University-iQIYI Joint Innovation Center, a board member of the China Society for Image and Graphics, Chair of the Graphics and Image Committee of the Jiangsu Computer Society, and Chair of the Virtual Reality Committee of the Jiangsu Society of Engineers. He has published nearly 100 high-level papers, including approximately 20 in ACM/IEEE Transactions.
    Shi Wenzhe is a strategy planning engineer at Beijing Xingyun Digital Technology Co., Ltd. and a member of the National Key Laboratory for Mobile Network and Mobile Multimedia Technology, China. He is also involved inproduct planning for the XRExplore Platform at Beijing Xingyun Digital Technology Co., Ltd. His research interests include indoor visual AR navigation, SFM 3D reconstruction, visual SLAM, real-time cloud rendering, VR, and spatial perception.
  • Supported by:
    ZTE Industry?University?Institute Cooperation Funds(IA20230921014)

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Abstract:

In this paper, we provide a comprehensive examination of the evolution of graphics Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). We begin by exploring traditional graphics APIs, elucidating their distinct features and inherent challenges. This sets the stage for a detailed exploration of modern graphics APIs, with a focus on four critical design principles. These principles are further analyzed through specific case studies and categorical examinations. The paper then introduces MoerEngine, a bespoke rendering engine, as a practical case to demonstrate the real-world application of these modern principles in software engineering. In conclusion, the study offers insights into the potential future trajectory of graphics APIs, spotlighting emerging design patterns and technological innovations. It also ventures to predict the development trends and capabilities of next-generation graphics APIs.

Key words: graphics API, rendering, design principle, MoerEngine