9.1 whats-new & upgrade guide

docs/upgrade-guide.md

@@ -2,6 +2,28 @@
 
 ## Upgrading to v9.1
 
+### Uniform buffer objects
+
+All shaders that use global uniform defitions need to be migrated to Uniform Buffer Objects and the shader references updated, for example:
+
+```glsl
+// Global uniform
+uniform float opacity;
+
+// UBO
+uniform layerUniforms {
+  uniform float opacity;
+} layer;
+```
+
+The [ShaderModule](https://luma.gl/docs/api-reference/shadertools/shader-module) class is used to encapsulate and inject the uniforms, as well as providing using useful type checks. It maps (typed) props to uniforms defined in the UBO block. See [layerUniforms](https://github.com/visgl/deck.gl/blob/master/modules/core/src/shaderlib/misc/layer-uniforms.ts) for an example.
+
+Layers need to be modified:
+- `getShaders()` needs to additionaly return the `ShaderModule` that defines the UBO
+- Instead of calling `model.setUniforms` (or `model.setBindings`) use `model.shaderInputs.setProps` to update the UBO with props
+
+For more information see [presentation](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1OcjA_hdu6vEvL_nxm7ywnXZQbMr5eR4R_L-wcz6K0HI/) ([recording](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ei6scnRpNhU))
+
 ### User input handling
 
 - The main gesture recognition library, [mjolnir.js](https://visgl.github.io/mjolnir.js), is upgraded to v3.0. Hammer.js is no longer an (indirect) dependency, due to its lack of maintenance and various issues with SSR and test environments.

docs/whats-new.md

@@ -4,12 +4,35 @@ This page contains highlights of each deck.gl release. Also check our [vis.gl bl
 
 ## deck.gl v9.1
 
-Release date: TBD (targeting September 2024)
+Release date: TBD (targeting December 2024)
+
+<table style={{border: 0}} align="center">
+  <tbody>
+    <tr>
+      <td>
+        <img style={{maxHeight:200}} src="https://www.w3.org/2023/02/webgpu-logos/webgpu-notext.svg" />
+        <p><i>WebGPU readiness</i></p>
+      </td>
+      <td>
+        <img style={{maxHeight:200}} src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/a3cc7c70-10a5-40c1-a5a8-d5d8b2d165ba" />
+        <p><i>Aggregation Layers</i></p>
+      </td>
+      <td>
+        <img style={{maxHeight:200}} src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/e522d961-600a-4405-9f09-c247b42f7e62" />
+        <p><i>Maplibre Globe View</i></p>
+      </td>
+      <td>
+        <img style={{maxHeight:200}} src="https://github.com/visgl/deck.gl/assets/453755/f1a10ffd-d403-4ea5-958d-3bc8fea412fe" />
+        <p><i>React Widgets</i></p>
+      </td>
+    </tr>
+  </tbody>
+</table>
+
 
 ### WebGPU readiness
 
-- luma.gl v9.1
-- All layers migrated to UBO
+All layers have been migrated to UBO, which is a necessary step in order to support WebGL & WebGPU. luma.gl has been updated to v9.1. For most users this change should be transparent, but custom layers that add `uniforms` will [need to be migrated](./upgrade-guide.md).
 
 ### Aggregation layers upgrade
 
@@ -26,6 +49,17 @@ Highlights:
 
 See [upgrade guide](./upgrade-guide.md) for more details.
 
+
+### Maplibre Globe View
+
+MapLibre v5 recently launched a [globe view](https://github.com/maplibre/maplibre-gl-js/issues/307), and in collaboration with the MapLibre team, we have add support for seamlessly integrating deck.gl layers with the globe using the existing [GlobeView](./api-reference/core/globe-view). The integration works for all three [Intergration Modes](./developer-guide/base-maps/using-with-maplibre#integration-modes). 
+
+
+### React Widgets
+
+deck.gl v9.0 added support for widgets, with v9.1 they can now be defined in React. A major benefit is the ablility to define custom widgets with UI built in React.
+
+
 ## deck.gl v9.0
 
 Release date: March 21, 2024