# OPENRNDR and ORX 0.5.0-alpha3 released!

**URL:** <https://openrndr.discourse.group/t/openrndr-and-orx-0-5-0-alpha3-released/767>\
**Category:** Announcements\
**Created:** [March 23, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://openrndr.discourse.group/t/openrndr-and-orx-0-5-0-alpha3-released/767 "2026-03-23T16:37:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![abe](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/openrndr.discourse.group/abe/32/700_2.png) [@abe](https://openrndr.discourse.group/u/abe)\
**Post date:** [March 23, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://openrndr.discourse.group/t/openrndr-and-orx-0-5-0-alpha3-released/767/1 "2026-03-23T16:37:14Z")

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Hi! 🙂 In preparation of the 0.5.0 release, we have now an **alpha3** available to make it easy to play with the latest features.

 ![p2026_01._050_alpha3-2026-03-23-17.35.43](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/openrndr/original/1X/e0b3333ceded8664540eb3260ea6c4328cc59198.jpeg)

Try it by cloning the `next-version` branch of the template:

> **[GitHub - openrndr/openrndr-template at next-version](https://github.com/openrndr/openrndr-template/tree/next-version)**
>
> A feature rich template for creating OPENRNDR programs based on Gradle/Kts - openrndr/openrndr-template

It is possible to upgrade your dependencies instead of cloning the next-version branch, but the `build.gradle.kts` has been greatly simplified down to ~30 lines of code, with most of its content moved into the `buildSrc` folder. If you want to update an older project to 0.5.0-\* take a look at these instructions: [Home · openrndr/openrndr-template Wiki · GitHub](https://github.com/openrndr/openrndr-template/wiki#updating-the-template-from--045-to-050)

Some changes that landed between 0.4.5 and 0.5.0 from the top of my head:

- SDL3 is now the default graphics back-end instead of GLFW. This enables many input-related features like touch and pinch events, and others we may add in the future (graphics tablet support, multiple mice, gamepads, etc.)
- Variable frame rates supported when exporting videos
- Performance improvements
- Improved orx-panel, now with grid layouts
- Added: orx-g-code
- Improved: orx-axidraw
- Gui now allows removing of sections
- All 371 orx demos have now descriptions in their corresponding README files. You can view them in github with a web browser.

That’s ~800 commits in various repos 🙂

On related news, there are now work-in-progress experimental [Android](https://github.com/openrndr/openrndr/tree/feature-android-support) and [WASM](https://github.com/openrndr/openrndr/tree/feature-wasmjs-support) branches. Testing, feedback and contributions are welcome.