The Visual Effects Society has released of the industry standard VFX Reference Platform, a set of tools and library versions to be used as a common target platform for building software for the VFX industry.
Its purpose is to minimize incompatibilities between different software packages, ease the support burden for Linux-based pipelines and encourage further adoption of Linux by software vendors. The Reference Platform is updated annually by a group of software vendors in collaboration with the VES Technology Committee.
The Calendar Year 2014 Reference Platform is the first-of-its-kind and represents the closest collaboration yet between software solutions providers to converge on a common platform. The 2015 Platform has been published in draft form and feedback is invited from software vendors and customer studios. The final version will be published in August and announced at SIGGRAPH.
The VES worked in collaboration with leading VFX companies and application providers to develop the platform, which provides a forum to coordinate major platform upgrades, easing the transition to new technologies, while increasing reliable interoperability and lowering costs for vendors and customers.
The Reference Platforms along with further supporting information, including how to contribute feedback, are available on www.vfxplatform.com.
