[jsheard]

It runs deeper than that, during the development of WebGPU it came to light that Apple was vetoing the use of any Khronos IP whatsoever, due to a private legal dispute between them. That led to WebGPU having to re-invent the wheel with a brand new shader language because Apples lawyers wouldn't sign off on using GLSL or SPIR-V under any circumstances.

The actual details of the dispute never came out, so we don't know if it has been resolved or not.

[binary132]

Apple, refusing to use open standards, and instead demanding everyone else do things their way? Say it’s not so!

[jsheard]

The bizarre thing is that Apple did used to cooperate with Khronos, they were involved with OpenGL and even donated the initial version of the OpenCL spec to them. Something dramatic happened behind the scenes at some point.

[ferbivore]

My absurd pet theory is that this was related to their 2017-2020 dispute with Imagination. Apple started (allegedly) violating Imagination's IP in 2017. They were, at the very least, threatened with a lawsuit, and the threats were compelling enough that they've been paying up since 2020. It could be Apple pulled out of the Khronos IP pool to prepare a lawsuit, or to have better chances of dodging one.

[pjmlp]

Most likely related to how Khronos managed OpenCL after getting hold of it.

[talldayo]

Please, tell us all about how Khronos hurt Apple with free software that Apple had every opportunity to influence. Point to the boo-boo that justifies making things worse for everyone.

[pjmlp]

My dear Apple has zero influence on Windows, Linux and Android.

Where are those great OpenCL implementations from Intel, AMD and Google?

[google234123]

I can imagine a scenario: Apple donates openCL, then later suggests some changes for the next version. Khronos delays or pushes back and now openCL is stuck from Apple's perspective and they can't do anything about it.

[pjmlp]

Yep.

[binary132]

I really want them to get it together with OpenCL 3 and especially Vulkan interop but I’m not really holding out hope for it.

[pjmlp]

OpenCL 3 is OpenCL 1, no one cares, Intel has made extensions on too for DPC++, AMD is pushing Romc or whatever else they think of.

Still not showing that they care.

[talldayo]

I don't know why anyone would try to care when Apple announced they were pivoting away from OpenCL half a decade ago. The value prop of a cross-platform GPGPU API died the moment that Apple gave up, and OpenGL's treatment reflects what happens once Apple abandons an open standard.