9.1 whats-new & upgrade guide

docs/upgrade-guide.md

@@ -32,6 +32,30 @@ Breaking changes:
 
 - `PointLight.attenuation` was previously ignored. To retain old behavior, use the default (`[1, 0, 0]`).
 
+### Uniform buffers
+
+GLSL shaders that take inputs via WebGL1-style uniforms need to be migrated to use uniform buffers instead. 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 bindings and uniforms defined in the UBO block, which [ShaderInputs](https://luma.gl/docs/api-reference/engine/shader-inputs) uses to update bindings and uniform buffers on the GPU.
+
+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))
+
 ## Upgrading to v9.0
 
 **Before you upgrade: known issues**

docs/whats-new.md

@@ -4,12 +4,39 @@ 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://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>
+      <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://www.w3.org/2023/02/webgpu-logos/webgpu-notext.svg" />
+        <p><i>WebGPU readiness</i></p>
+      </td>
+    </tr>
+  </tbody>
+</table>
 
-### WebGPU readiness
 
-- luma.gl v9.1
-- All layers migrated to UBO
+### 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.
 
 ### Aggregation layers upgrade
 
@@ -26,6 +53,12 @@ Highlights:
 
 See [upgrade guide](./upgrade-guide.md) for more details.
 
+### WebGPU readiness
+
+- luma.gl has been updated to v9.1 which focuses on building out WebGPU support. For details see [release notes](https://luma.gl/docs/whats-new#version-91-in-development) and [upgrade-guide](https://luma.gl/docs/upgrade-guide#upgrading-to-v91).
+- As part of WebGPU readiness, all shader code in deck.gl v9.1 (layers and extensions) have been migrated to use uniform buffers instead of WebGL1 style uniforms. 
+- For most users this change should be transparent, but custom layers that add `uniforms` should [start migrating asap](./upgrade-guide.md) as WebGL1 style uniform support is being actively phased out.
+
 ## deck.gl v9.0
 
 Release date: March 21, 2024