apitrace
apitrace records OpenGL, Direct3D, and DirectDraw API calls in files that can be replayed on other machines.
What apitrace is
apitrace records OpenGL, Direct3D, and DirectDraw API calls in files that can be replayed on other machines. OpenGL traces can also be replayed across operating systems. Its tools let developers examine call data and graphics state, inspect framebuffers and textures, edit trace files, and profile performance. Coverage varies across the listed APIs and operations: the feature matrix spans OpenGL 1.0–4.5, OpenGL ES 1.0–3.0, Direct3D 7–11.x, and DirectDraw. Command-line profiling can capture frame, GPU, CPU, and pixels-drawn data. apitrace supports Linux, OS X, and Windows for tracing, replay, command-line, and graphical use. Linux and Windows binaries are available for x86_64 and Arm64, as well as Windows x86. The project is open-source under the MIT license. A stated limitation is that programmatic Direct3D capture interfaces are unsupported. The project is maintained, though its maintainer has limited time to address patches, issues, and requests. A manual, bug-reporting guide, source-hacking guide, wiki, and mailing list are available for support.
Good
- Records OpenGL, Direct3D, and DirectDraw calls
- Can inspect state, framebuffers, textures, and call data
- Profiles frame, GPU, CPU, and pixels-drawn data
- Supports Linux, OS X, and Windows
- Open-source under the MIT license
Watch out
- Programmatic Direct3D capture interfaces are unsupported
- API support varies by operation
- Maintainer handles requests as time permits
Who it suits
It suits developers who need to capture, replay, inspect, or profile graphics API traces on Linux, OS X, or Windows. Its varying API coverage and unsupported programmatic Direct3D capture are important to check against a project’s needs.
Verdict
apitrace brings trace capture, replay, inspection, and profiling tools together for several graphics APIs. Its API-specific coverage and Direct3D capture limitation warrant review before relying on a particular workflow.
Plans and prices
From apitrace's own pricing page, checked 1 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Open-source apitrace | Free | source clone; binaries for Windows and Linux architectures |
The facts
Each one read from apitrace's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Analysis
- The tools inspect state, view framebuffers and textures, view call data, edit trace files, and profile trace performance.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Annotations
- OpenGL traces can use several debug and marker extensions, including GL_KHR_debug and GL_EXT_debug_marker.checked 1 Oct 2026
- API coverage
- The feature matrix covers OpenGL 1.0–4.5, OpenGL ES 1.0–3.0, Direct3D 7–11.x, and DirectDraw with varying trace, replay, inspection, and profiling support.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Backtrace capture
- Call-stack capture for OpenGL calls is available on Android and Linux.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- The project provides latest Windows and Linux binaries for x86_64 and Arm64, plus Windows x86 binaries.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Known limitation
- Programmatic Direct3D capture interfaces are currently unsupported.checked 1 Oct 2026
- License
- The GitHub repository identifies the project license as MIT.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Maintenance
- The project says it is maintained, but the maintainer has very little time and addresses patches, issues, and requests as time permits.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Operating systems
- The OS matrix lists Linux, OS X, and Windows for tracing, replay, CLI, and GUI use.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Profiling
- Command-line profiling can record frame, GPU, CPU, and pixels-drawn data, with shader-profile formatting available through a script.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- apitrace traces OpenGL, Direct3D, and DirectDraw API calls to files.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Remote replay
- qapitrace has rudimentary support for replaying traces on a remote target device.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Replay
- Recorded calls can be replayed on any machine and, for OpenGL, on any operating system.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Source availability
- apitrace is open-source, hosted on GitHub, and can be cloned with its submodules.checked 1 Oct 2026
- Support
- The homepage links to a manual, bug-reporting guide, source-hacking guide, wiki, and mailing list.checked 1 Oct 2026
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