glXCreateContextAttribsARB not found (on OpenGL 4.2 driver, GLX 1.4)

Question

Strangely enough, despite the fact that I have GLX 1.4, it appears that I don't have glXCreateContextAttribsARB in my repos.

I wonder if there's any reasonable explanation for this? This can't be a common issue.

glxinfo

name of display: :0
display: :0  screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
server glx version string: 1.4
server glx extensions:
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, 
    GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGI_swap_control, 
    GLX_EXT_swap_control, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_ARB_create_context, 
    GLX_ARB_create_context_profile, GLX_EXT_create_context_es2_profile, 
    GLX_ARB_create_context_robustness, GLX_ARB_multisample, 
    GLX_NV_float_buffer, GLX_ARB_fbconfig_float, GLX_EXT_framebuffer_sRGB
client glx vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
client glx version string: 1.4
client glx extensions:
    GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info, 
    GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_SGI_video_sync, 
    GLX_NV_swap_group, GLX_NV_video_out, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, 
    GLX_SGI_swap_control, GLX_EXT_swap_control, GLX_ARB_create_context, 
    GLX_ARB_create_context_profile, GLX_NV_float_buffer, 
    GLX_ARB_fbconfig_float, GLX_EXT_fbconfig_packed_float, 
    GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_EXT_framebuffer_sRGB, 
    GLX_NV_present_video, GLX_NV_copy_image, GLX_NV_multisample_coverage, 
    GLX_NV_video_capture, GLX_EXT_create_context_es2_profile, 
    GLX_ARB_create_context_robustness
GLX version: 1.4
GLX extensions:
    GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, 
    GLX_SGIX_pbuffer, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_SGI_swap_control, 
    GLX_EXT_swap_control, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_ARB_create_context, 
    GLX_ARB_create_context_profile, GLX_EXT_create_context_es2_profile, 
    GLX_ARB_create_context_robustness, GLX_ARB_multisample, 
    GLX_NV_float_buffer, GLX_ARB_fbconfig_float, GLX_EXT_framebuffer_sRGB, 
    GLX_ARB_get_proc_address
OpenGL vendor string: NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL renderer string: GeForce GTX 550 Ti/PCI/SSE2
OpenGL version string: 4.2.0 NVIDIA 290.10
OpenGL shading language version string: 4.20 NVIDIA via Cg compiler
OpenGL extensions:
    GL_ARB_base_instance, GL_ARB_blend_func_extended, 
    GL_ARB_color_buffer_float, GL_ARB_compatibility, 
    GL_ARB_compressed_texture_pixel_storage, GL_ARB_conservative_depth, 
    GL_ARB_copy_buffer, GL_ARB_depth_buffer_float, GL_ARB_depth_clamp, 
    GL_ARB_depth_texture, GL_ARB_draw_buffers, GL_ARB_draw_buffers_blend, 
    GL_ARB_draw_indirect, GL_ARB_draw_elements_base_vertex, 
    GL_ARB_draw_instanced, GL_ARB_ES2_compatibility, 
    GL_ARB_explicit_attrib_location, GL_ARB_fragment_coord_conventions, 
    GL_ARB_fragment_program, GL_ARB_fragment_program_shadow, 
    GL_ARB_fragment_shader, GL_ARB_framebuffer_object, 
    GL_ARB_framebuffer_sRGB, GL_ARB_geometry_shader4, 
    GL_ARB_get_program_binary, GL_ARB_gpu_shader5, GL_ARB_gpu_shader_fp64, 
    GL_ARB_half_float_pixel, GL_ARB_half_float_vertex, GL_ARB_imaging, 
    GL_ARB_instanced_arrays, GL_ARB_internalformat_query, 
    GL_ARB_map_buffer_alignment, GL_ARB_map_buffer_range, GL_ARB_multisample, 
    GL_ARB_multitexture, GL_ARB_occlusion_query, GL_ARB_occlusion_query2, 
    GL_ARB_pixel_buffer_object, GL_ARB_point_parameters, GL_ARB_point_sprite, 
    GL_ARB_provoking_vertex, GL_ARB_robustness, GL_ARB_sample_shading, 
    GL_ARB_sampler_objects, GL_ARB_seamless_cube_map, 
    GL_ARB_separate_shader_objects, GL_ARB_shader_atomic_counters, 
    GL_ARB_shader_bit_encoding, GL_ARB_shader_image_load_store, 
    GL_ARB_shader_objects, GL_ARB_shader_precision, GL_ARB_shader_subroutine, 
    GL_ARB_shading_language_100, GL_ARB_shading_language_420pack, 
    GL_ARB_shading_language_include, GL_ARB_shading_language_packing, 
    GL_ARB_shadow, GL_ARB_sync, GL_ARB_tessellation_shader, 
    GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp, GL_ARB_texture_buffer_object, 
    GL_ARB_texture_buffer_object_rgb32, GL_ARB_texture_compression, 
    GL_ARB_texture_compression_bptc, GL_ARB_texture_compression_rgtc, 
    GL_ARB_texture_cube_map, GL_ARB_texture_cube_map_array, 
    GL_ARB_texture_env_add, GL_ARB_texture_env_combine, 
    GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar, GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3, 
    GL_ARB_texture_float, GL_ARB_texture_gather, 
    GL_ARB_texture_mirrored_repeat, GL_ARB_texture_multisample, 
    GL_ARB_texture_non_power_of_two, GL_ARB_texture_query_lod, 
    GL_ARB_texture_rectangle, GL_ARB_texture_rg, GL_ARB_texture_rgb10_a2ui, 
    GL_ARB_texture_storage, GL_ARB_texture_swizzle, GL_ARB_timer_query, 
    GL_ARB_transform_feedback2, GL_ARB_transform_feedback3, 
    GL_ARB_transform_feedback_instanced, GL_ARB_transpose_matrix, 
    GL_ARB_uniform_buffer_object, GL_ARB_vertex_array_bgra, 
    GL_ARB_vertex_array_object, GL_ARB_vertex_attrib_64bit, 
    GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object, GL_ARB_vertex_program, GL_ARB_vertex_shader, 
    GL_ARB_vertex_type_2_10_10_10_rev, GL_ARB_viewport_array, 
    GL_ARB_window_pos, GL_ATI_draw_buffers, GL_ATI_texture_float, 
    GL_ATI_texture_mirror_once, GL_S3_s3tc, GL_EXT_texture_env_add, 
    GL_EXT_abgr, GL_EXT_bgra, GL_EXT_bindable_uniform, GL_EXT_blend_color, 
    GL_EXT_blend_equation_separate, GL_EXT_blend_func_separate, 
    GL_EXT_blend_minmax, GL_EXT_blend_subtract, GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array, 
    GL_EXT_Cg_shader, GL_EXT_depth_bounds_test, GL_EXT_direct_state_access, 
    GL_EXT_draw_buffers2, GL_EXT_draw_instanced, GL_EXT_draw_range_elements, 
    GL_EXT_fog_coord, GL_EXT_framebuffer_blit, GL_EXT_framebuffer_multisample, 
    GL_EXTX_framebuffer_mixed_formats, GL_EXT_framebuffer_object, 
    GL_EXT_framebuffer_sRGB, GL_EXT_geometry_shader4, 
    GL_EXT_gpu_program_parameters, GL_EXT_gpu_shader4, 
    GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays, GL_EXT_packed_depth_stencil, 
    GL_EXT_packed_float, GL_EXT_packed_pixels, GL_EXT_pixel_buffer_object, 
    GL_EXT_point_parameters, GL_EXT_provoking_vertex, GL_EXT_rescale_normal, 
    GL_EXT_secondary_color, GL_EXT_separate_shader_objects, 
    GL_EXT_separate_specular_color, GL_EXT_shader_image_load_store, 
    GL_EXT_shadow_funcs, GL_EXT_stencil_two_side, GL_EXT_stencil_wrap, 
    GL_EXT_texture3D, GL_EXT_texture_array, GL_EXT_texture_buffer_object, 
    GL_EXT_texture_compression_dxt1, GL_EXT_texture_compression_latc, 
    GL_EXT_texture_compression_rgtc, GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc, 
    GL_EXT_texture_cube_map, GL_EXT_texture_edge_clamp, 
    GL_EXT_texture_env_combine, GL_EXT_texture_env_dot3, 
    GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic, GL_EXT_texture_format_BGRA8888, 
    GL_EXT_texture_integer, GL_EXT_texture_lod, GL_EXT_texture_lod_bias, 
    GL_EXT_texture_mirror_clamp, GL_EXT_texture_object, 
    GL_EXT_texture_shared_exponent, GL_EXT_texture_sRGB, 
    GL_EXT_texture_sRGB_decode, GL_EXT_texture_storage, 
    GL_EXT_texture_swizzle, GL_EXT_texture_type_2_10_10_10_REV, 
    GL_EXT_timer_query, GL_EXT_transform_feedback2, GL_EXT_vertex_array, 
    GL_EXT_vertex_array_bgra, GL_EXT_vertex_attrib_64bit, 
    GL_EXT_x11_sync_object, GL_EXT_import_sync_object, GL_IBM_rasterpos_clip, 
    GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat, GL_KTX_buffer_region, GL_NV_alpha_test, 
    GL_NV_blend_minmax, GL_NV_blend_square, GL_NV_complex_primitives, 
    GL_NV_conditional_render, GL_NV_copy_depth_to_color, GL_NV_copy_image, 
    GL_NV_depth_buffer_float, GL_NV_depth_clamp, GL_NV_explicit_multisample, 
    GL_NV_fbo_color_attachments, GL_NV_fence, GL_NV_float_buffer, 
    GL_NV_fog_distance, GL_NV_fragdepth, GL_NV_fragment_program, 
    GL_NV_fragment_program_option, GL_NV_fragment_program2, 
    GL_NV_framebuffer_multisample_coverage, GL_NV_geometry_shader4, 
    GL_NV_gpu_program4, GL_NV_gpu_program4_1, GL_NV_gpu_program5, 
    GL_NV_gpu_program_fp64, GL_NV_gpu_shader5, GL_NV_half_float, 
    GL_NV_light_max_exponent, GL_NV_multisample_coverage, 
    GL_NV_multisample_filter_hint, GL_NV_occlusion_query, 
    GL_NV_packed_depth_stencil, GL_NV_parameter_buffer_object, 
    GL_NV_parameter_buffer_object2, GL_NV_path_rendering, 
    GL_NV_pixel_data_range, GL_NV_point_sprite, GL_NV_primitive_restart, 
    GL_NV_register_combiners, GL_NV_register_combiners2, 
    GL_NV_shader_atomic_counters, GL_NV_shader_buffer_load, 
    GL_NV_texgen_reflection, GL_NV_texture_barrier, 
    GL_NV_texture_compression_vtc, GL_NV_texture_env_combine4, 
    GL_NV_texture_expand_normal, GL_NV_texture_lod_clamp, 
    GL_NV_texture_multisample, GL_NV_texture_rectangle, GL_NV_texture_shader, 
    GL_NV_texture_shader2, GL_NV_texture_shader3, GL_NV_transform_feedback, 
    GL_NV_transform_feedback2, GL_NV_vdpau_interop, GL_NV_vertex_array_range, 
    GL_NV_vertex_array_range2, GL_NV_vertex_attrib_integer_64bit, 
    GL_NV_vertex_buffer_unified_memory, GL_NV_vertex_program, 
    GL_NV_vertex_program1_1, GL_NV_vertex_program2, 
    GL_NV_vertex_program2_option, GL_NV_vertex_program3, 
    GL_NVX_conditional_render, GL_NVX_gpu_memory_info, GL_OES_depth24, 
    GL_OES_depth32, GL_OES_depth_texture, GL_OES_element_index_uint, 
    GL_OES_fbo_render_mipmap, GL_OES_get_program_binary, GL_OES_mapbuffer, 
    GL_OES_packed_depth_stencil, GL_OES_rgb8_rgba8, 
    GL_OES_standard_derivatives, GL_OES_texture_3D, GL_OES_texture_float, 
    GL_OES_texture_float_linear, GL_OES_texture_half_float, 
    GL_OES_texture_half_float_linear, GL_OES_texture_npot, 
    GL_OES_vertex_array_object, GL_OES_vertex_half_float, 
    GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap, GL_SGIS_texture_lod, GL_SGIX_depth_texture, 
    GL_SGIX_shadow, GL_SUN_slice_accum

Obviously buffer binding, ARB, and all that other nice stuff is supported, but why not glXCreateContextAttribsARB?

Even stranger, what I do have is glXCreateContextAttribsARBPRoc, which I'm curious to know if it would serve as an alternative?

This compiles, for example:

`glXCreateContextAttribsARBProc glxccarb = 0;`

Answer 1

When you say "don't have", I assume you mean "if I try to call a function of this name directly, my app won't link".

That's somewhat by design. The list of functions directly exported from libGL is not growing. If it did, an app that links against a (function exported only by a) new libGL would fail to even launch against an old one. That's bad.

glXCreateContextAttribsARB, like all other extension functions, should be looked up using glXGetProcAddressARB. Better yet, use GLEW so you don't have to worry about this level of detail again.