EGLKeepalive

Mini script using ModernGL to keep a GPU from entering D3cold, by nudging an EGL context every second. Useful if you have a Nvidia Optimus laptop and the delay of GPU activation is annoying.

Installing

Available on PyPI as EGLKeepalive

Recommended install using pipx:

$ pipx install EGLKeepalive

Example effect

Make use of the GLCONTEXT_DEVICE_INDEX environment variable on the command line, that overrides which graphics card / device that EGL chooses. Our Python code uses

gl = mgl.create_context(standalone = True, backend = "egl")

but with GLCONTEXT_DEVICE_INDEX=67 on the command line is equivalent to

gl = mgl.create_context(standalone = True, backend = "egl", device_index = 67)

so have a play with different GLCONTEXT_DEVICE_INDEX=123 to get it to work.

$ cat /sys/class/drm/card*/device/power_state
D3cold
D0
$ # lazy Nvidia GPU is fast asleep; power saving or something...

$ GLCONTEXT_DEVICE_INDEX=1 egl-keepalive &
$ # wakey wakey

$ cat /sys/class/drm/card*/device/power_state
D0
D0
$ # it's OpenGL time