Removes RenderPath

We can render the game only with shaders so we don't need to support
fixed function pipeline as a separate render path. We only need to know
when to warn a user.

Fixes #6244

binaries/data/config/default.cfg

@@ -148,9 +148,6 @@ renderer.backend.vulkan.debugwaitidlebeforeacquire = false
 renderer.backend.vulkan.debugwaitidlebeforepresent = false
 renderer.backend.vulkan.debugwaitidleafterpresent = false
 
-; Should not be edited. It's used only for preventing of running fixed pipeline.
-renderpath = default
-
 ; (0 - low, 1 - medium, 2 - high), higher quality means worse performance.
 textures.quality = 2
 
@@ -172,7 +169,7 @@ pbr.brightness = "0.5"
 ; Use smooth LOS interpolation
 smoothlos = true
 
-; Use screen-space postprocessing filters (HDR, bloom, DOF, etc). Incompatible with fixed renderpath.
+; Use screen-space postprocessing filters (HDR, bloom, DOF, etc).
 postproc = true
 
 ; Use anti-aliasing techniques.

binaries/data/mods/mod/hwdetect/hwdetect.js

@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ function RunDetection(settings)
 	// This function should have no side effects, it should just
 	// set these output properties:
 
+	let hardwareSupported = true;
 
 	// List of warning strings to display to the user
 	// in an ugly GUI dialog box
@@ -184,7 +185,6 @@ function RunDetection(settings)
 	var disable_fancywater;
 	var enable_postproc;
 	var enable_smoothlos;
-	var override_renderpath;
 
 	// TODO: add some mechanism for setting config values
 	// (overriding default.cfg, but overridden by local.cfg)
@@ -289,23 +289,21 @@ function RunDetection(settings)
 	// r300 classic has problems with shader mode, so fall back to non-shader
 	if (os_unix && GL_RENDERER.match(/^Mesa DRI R[123]00 /))
 	{
-		override_renderpath = "fixed";
-		warnings.push("Some graphics features are disabled, due to bugs in old graphics drivers. Upgrading to a Gallium-based driver might help.");
+		hardwareSupported = false;
 	}
 
 	// https://www.wildfiregames.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=15058
 	// GF FX has poor shader performance, so fall back to non-shader
 	if (GL_RENDERER.match(/^GeForce FX /))
 	{
-		override_renderpath = "fixed";
-		disable_allwater = true;
+		hardwareSupported = false;
 	}
 
 	// https://gitea.wildfiregames.com/0ad/0ad/issues/964
 	// SiS Mirage 3 drivers apparently crash with shaders, so fall back to non-shader
 	if (os_win && GL_RENDERER.match(/^Mirage Graphics3$/))
 	{
-		override_renderpath = "fixed";
+		hardwareSupported = false;
 	}
 
 	return {
@@ -319,7 +317,7 @@ function RunDetection(settings)
 		"disable_fancywater": disable_fancywater,
 		"enable_postproc": enable_postproc,
 		"enable_smoothlos": enable_smoothlos,
-		"override_renderpath": override_renderpath,
+		"hardwareSupported": hardwareSupported,
 	};
 }
 
@@ -327,7 +325,7 @@ global.RunHardwareDetection = function(settings)
 {
 	// Currently we don't have limitations for other backends than GL.
 	if (settings.renderer_backend.name != 'gl')
-		return;
+		return true;
 
 	// print(JSON.stringify(settings, null, 1)+"\n");
 
@@ -376,6 +374,5 @@ global.RunHardwareDetection = function(settings)
 	if (output.enable_smoothlos !== undefined)
 		Engine.ConfigDB_CreateValue("hwdetect", "smoothlos", (output.enable_smoothlos).toString());
 
-	if (output.override_renderpath !== undefined)
-		Engine.ConfigDB_CreateValue("hwdetect", "renderpath", (output.override_renderpath).toString());
+	return output.hardwareSupported;
 };

binaries/data/mods/mod/hwdetect/test.js

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ for (var settings of hwdetectTestData)
 	var os = (settings.os_linux ? "linux" : settings.os_macosx ? "macosx" : settings.os_win ? "win" : "???");
 
 	var disabled = [];
-	for (var d of ["disable_audio", "disable_s3tc", "disable_shadows", "disable_shadowpcf", "disable_allwater", "disable_fancywater", "override_renderpath"])
+	for (var d of ["disable_audio", "disable_s3tc", "disable_shadows", "disable_shadowpcf", "disable_allwater", "disable_fancywater", "hardwareSupported"])
 		if (output[d] !== undefined)
 			disabled.push(d+"="+output[d]);
 

source/graphics/ObjectEntry.cpp

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-/* Copyright (C) 2025 Wildfire Games.
+/* Copyright (C) 2026 Wildfire Games.
  * This file is part of 0 A.D.
  *
  * 0 A.D. is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ bool CObjectEntry::BuildVariation(const std::vector<const std::set<CStr>*>& comp
 					? Renderer::Backend::Sampler::AddressMode::CLAMP_TO_BORDER
 					: Renderer::Backend::Sampler::AddressMode::CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
 			CTexturePtr texture = g_Renderer.GetTextureManager().CreateTexture(textureProps);
-			// TODO: Should check which renderpath is selected and only preload the necessary textures.
+			// TODO: Should check which material is selected and only preload the necessary textures.
 			texture->Prefetch();
 			material.AddSampler(CMaterial::TextureSampler(samp.m_SamplerName, texture));
 		}
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ bool CObjectEntry::BuildVariation(const std::vector<const std::set<CStr>*>& comp
 		CTexturePtr texture = g_Renderer.GetTextureManager().CreateTexture(textureProps);
 		// if we've loaded this model we're probably going to render it soon, so prefetch its texture.
 		// All textures are prefetched even in the fixed pipeline, including the normal maps etc.
-		// TODO: Should check which renderpath is selected and only preload the necessary textures.
+		// TODO: Should check which material is selected and only preload the necessary textures.
 		texture->Prefetch();
 		material.AddSampler(CMaterial::TextureSampler(samp.m_SamplerName, texture));
 	}

source/ps/GameSetup/GameSetup.cpp

@@ -617,19 +617,6 @@ bool Init(const CmdLineArgs& args, int flags)
 
 	g_GUI = new CGUIManager{scriptContext, scriptInterface};
 
-
-	if (RenderPathEnum::FromString(g_ConfigDB.Get("renderpath", "default"s)) == FIXED)
-	{
-		// It doesn't make sense to continue working here, because we're not
-		// able to display anything.
-		DEBUG_DISPLAY_FATAL_ERROR(
-			L"Your graphics card doesn't appear to be fully compatible with OpenGL shaders."
-			L" The game does not support pre-shader graphics cards."
-			L" You are advised to try installing newer drivers and/or upgrade your graphics card."
-			L" For more information, please see http://www.wildfiregames.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=16734"
-		);
-	}
-
 	g_RenderingOptions.ReadConfigAndSetupHooks();
 
 	// create renderer

source/ps/GameSetup/HWDetect.cpp

@@ -478,5 +478,18 @@ void RunHardwareDetection(bool writeSystemInfoBeforeDetection, Renderer::Backend
 
 	// Run the detection script:
 	JS::RootedValue global(rq.cx, rq.globalValue());
-	Script::Function::CallVoid(rq, global, "RunHardwareDetection", settings);
+	bool hardwareSupported{true};
+	Script::Function::Call(rq, global, "RunHardwareDetection", hardwareSupported, settings);
+
+	if (!hardwareSupported)
+	{
+		// It doesn't make sense to continue working here, because we're not
+		// able to display anything.
+		DEBUG_DISPLAY_FATAL_ERROR(
+			L"Your graphics card doesn't appear to be fully compatible with OpenGL shaders."
+			L" The game does not support pre-shader graphics cards."
+			L" You are advised to try installing newer drivers and/or upgrade your graphics card."
+			L" For more information, please see http://www.wildfiregames.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=16734"
+		);
+	}
 }

source/renderer/ModelRenderer.h

@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ typedef std::shared_ptr<ModelRenderer> ModelRendererPtr;
  * The main purpose of this class over CRenderData is to track which
  * ModelRenderer the render data belongs to (via the key that is passed
  * to the constructor). When a model changes the renderer it uses
- * (e.g. via run-time modification of the renderpath configuration),
+ * (e.g. via run-time modification of the gpu skinning configuration),
  * the old ModelRenderer's render data is supposed to be replaced by
  * the new data.
  */

source/renderer/Renderer.cpp

@@ -486,9 +486,6 @@ bool CRenderer::Open(int width, int height)
 	m_Width = width;
 	m_Height = height;
 
-	// Validate the currently selected render path
-	SetRenderPath(g_RenderingOptions.GetRenderPath());
-
 	m->debugRenderer.Initialize();
 
 	if (m->postprocManager.IsEnabled())
@@ -509,24 +506,6 @@ void CRenderer::Resize(int width, int height)
 	m->sceneRenderer.Resize(width, height);
 }
 
-void CRenderer::SetRenderPath(RenderPath rp)
-{
-	if (!m->IsOpen)
-	{
-		// Delay until Open() is called.
-		return;
-	}
-
-	// Renderer has been opened, so validate the selected renderpath
-	if (rp == RenderPath::DEFAULT)
-		rp = RenderPath::SHADER;
-
-	// TODO: remove this once capabilities have been properly extracted and the above checks have been moved elsewhere.
-	g_RenderingOptions.m_RenderPath = rp;
-
-	MakeShadersDirty();
-}
-
 bool CRenderer::ShouldRender() const
 {
 	return !g_app_minimized && (g_app_has_focus || !g_VideoMode.IsInFullscreen());

source/renderer/Renderer.h

@@ -169,11 +169,6 @@ protected:
 	void RenderScreenShot(const bool needsPresent);
 	void RenderBigScreenShot(const bool needsPresent);
 
-	// SetRenderPath: Select the preferred render path.
-	// This may only be called before Open(), because the layout of vertex arrays and other
-	// data may depend on the chosen render path.
-	void SetRenderPath(RenderPath rp);
-
 	void ReloadShaders();
 
 	// Private data that is not needed by inline functions.

source/renderer/RenderingOptions.cpp

@@ -60,33 +60,6 @@ private:
 	std::vector<CConfigDBHook> hooks;
 };
 
-RenderPath RenderPathEnum::FromString(const CStr8& name)
-{
-	if (name == "default")
-		return DEFAULT;
-	if (name == "fixed")
-		return FIXED;
-	if (name == "shader")
-		return SHADER;
-
-	LOGWARNING("Unknown render path %s", name.c_str());
-	return DEFAULT;
-}
-
-CStr8 RenderPathEnum::ToString(RenderPath path)
-{
-	switch (path)
-	{
-	case RenderPath::DEFAULT:
-		return "default";
-	case RenderPath::FIXED:
-		return "fixed";
-	case RenderPath::SHADER:
-		return "shader";
-	}
-	return "default"; // Silence warning about reaching end of non-void function.
-}
-
 RenderDebugMode RenderDebugModeEnum::FromString(const CStr8& name)
 {
 	if (name == str_RENDER_DEBUG_MODE_NONE.c_str())
@@ -120,7 +93,6 @@ CStrIntern RenderDebugModeEnum::ToString(RenderDebugMode mode)
 
 CRenderingOptions::CRenderingOptions() : m_ConfigHooks(new ConfigHooks())
 {
-	m_RenderPath = RenderPath::DEFAULT;
 	m_Shadows = false;
 	m_WaterEffects = false;
 	m_WaterFancyEffects = false;
@@ -148,10 +120,6 @@ CRenderingOptions::~CRenderingOptions()
 
 void CRenderingOptions::ReadConfigAndSetupHooks()
 {
-	m_ConfigHooks->Setup("renderpath", [this]() {
-		SetRenderPath(RenderPathEnum::FromString(g_ConfigDB.Get("renderpath", std::string{})));
-	});
-
 	m_ConfigHooks->Setup("shadowquality", []() {
 		if (CRenderer::IsInitialised())
 			g_Renderer.GetSceneRenderer().GetShadowMap().RecreateTexture();
@@ -301,13 +269,6 @@ void CRenderingOptions::SetFog(bool value)
 		g_Renderer.MakeShadersDirty();
 }
 
-void CRenderingOptions::SetRenderPath(RenderPath value)
-{
-	m_RenderPath = value;
-	if (CRenderer::IsInitialised())
-		g_Renderer.SetRenderPath(m_RenderPath);
-}
-
 void CRenderingOptions::SetRenderDebugMode(RenderDebugMode value)
 {
 	m_RenderDebugMode = value;

source/renderer/RenderingOptions.h

@@ -33,25 +33,6 @@
 
 class CStrIntern;
 
-enum RenderPath
-{
-	// If no rendering path is configured explicitly, the renderer
-	// will choose the path when Open() is called.
-	DEFAULT,
-
-	// Classic fixed function.
-	FIXED,
-
-	// Use new GLSL system
-	SHADER
-};
-
-struct RenderPathEnum
-{
-	static RenderPath FromString(const CStr8& name);
-	static CStr8 ToString(RenderPath);
-};
-
 enum class RenderDebugMode
 {
 	NONE,
@@ -101,8 +82,6 @@ OPTION_CUSTOM_SETTER(NAME, TYPE); OPTION_GETTER(NAME, TYPE); OPTION_DEF(NAME, TY
 	OPTION_WITH_SIDE_EFFECT(ShadowPCF, bool);
 	OPTION_WITH_SIDE_EFFECT(Fog, bool);
 
-	OPTION_WITH_SIDE_EFFECT(RenderPath, RenderPath);
-
 	OPTION_WITH_SIDE_EFFECT(RenderDebugMode, RenderDebugMode);
 
 	OPTION(WaterEffects, bool);

source/renderer/SceneRenderer.cpp

@@ -241,7 +241,6 @@ void CSceneRenderer::ReloadShaders([[maybe_unused]] Renderer::Backend::IDevice*
 
 	m->Model.ModShader = LitRenderModifierPtr(new ShaderRenderModifier());
 
-	ENSURE(g_RenderingOptions.GetRenderPath() != RenderPath::FIXED);
 	m->Model.VertexRendererShader = ModelVertexRendererPtr(new CPUSkinnedModelVertexRenderer());
 	m->Model.VertexInstancingShader = ModelVertexRendererPtr(new InstancingModelRenderer());
 

source/renderer/scripting/JSInterface_Renderer.cpp

@@ -47,11 +47,6 @@ IMPLEMENT_BOOLEAN_SCRIPT_SETTING(DisplayShadowsFrustum);
 
 #undef IMPLEMENT_BOOLEAN_SCRIPT_SETTING
 
-std::string GetRenderPath()
-{
-	return RenderPathEnum::ToString(g_RenderingOptions.GetRenderPath());
-}
-
 std::string GetRenderDebugMode()
 {
 	return RenderDebugModeEnum::ToString(g_RenderingOptions.GetRenderDebugMode()).c_str();
@@ -83,7 +78,6 @@ Script::Function::Register<&Set##NAME##Enabled>(rq, "Renderer_Set" #NAME "Enable
 
 void RegisterScriptFunctions(const Script::Request& rq)
 {
-	Script::Function::Register<&GetRenderPath>(rq, "Renderer_GetRenderPath");
 	Script::Function::Register<&TextureExists>(rq, "TextureExists");
 	Script::Function::Register<&GetRenderDebugMode>(rq, "Renderer_GetRenderDebugMode");
 	Script::Function::Register<&SetRenderDebugMode>(rq, "Renderer_SetRenderDebugMode");