I'm transitioning some code to use VAOs and have run into a curious problem that I'm not certain is a driver bug or the result of a brain malfunction on my part. Basically, the first batch of drawing code I've transitioned works perfectly; the API works as described and expected. The second batch does not.

Here's the code that works: glGenVertexArrays (1, &vao1);
glBindVertexArray (vao1);

glEnableVertexAttribArray (0);
glEnableVertexAttribArray (1);
glEnableVertexAttribArray (2);

glBindBuffer (GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, vbo1);

glVertexAttribPointer (0, 3, GL_FLOAT, GL_FALSE, sizeof (vertextype1), (void *) 0);
glVertexAttribPointer (1, 3, GL_FLOAT, GL_FALSE, sizeof (vertextype1), (void *) 12);
glVertexAttribPointer (2, 3, GL_FLOAT, GL_FALSE, sizeof (vertextype1), (void *) 24);

glBindBuffer (GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER, ibo1);

glBindVertexArray (0);
"vbo1" and "ibo1" are buffer objects that have already been successfully generated and confirmed to work without VAOs. "vbo1" has been created with GL_STATIC_DRAW, "ibo1" with GL_STREAM_DRAW.

And now here's the code that fails: glGenVertexArrays (1, &vao2);
glBindVertexArray (vao2);

glEnableVertexAttribArray (0);
glEnableVertexAttribArray (1);
glEnableVertexAttribArray (2);

glBindBuffer (GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, vbo2);

glVertexAttribPointer (0, 2, GL_FLOAT, GL_FALSE, sizeof (vertextype2), (void *) 0);
glVertexAttribPointer (1, 4, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, GL_TRUE, sizeof (vertextype2), (void *) 8);
glVertexAttribPointer (2, 2, GL_FLOAT, GL_FALSE, sizeof (vertextype2), (void *) 12);

glBindVertexArray (0);
Again, "vbo2" is a buffer object that has already been successfully generated and confirmed to work without VAOs. This time however it has been created with GL_STREAM_DRAW and there is no GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER in use.

In both cases the drawing code is essentially the same: bind the VAO and issue draw calls. In the working case glDrawRangeElements is used, in the non-working case glDrawArrays is used. In both cases glMapBufferRange is used for updating the GL_STREAM_DRAW buffers.

Checking in the debugger I see that both VAOs are successfully generated and are assigned non-zero names.

In the non-working case, however, I can make it work by just adding a "glBindBuffer (GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, vbo2)" call immediately before my glBindVertexArray call.

So in summary, works: glBindVertexArray (vao1);
glMapBufferRange (.....); glUnmapBuffer (.....);
glDrawRangeElements (......);

Doesn't work: glBindVertexArray (vao2);
glMapBufferRange (.....); glUnmapBuffer (.....);
glDrawArrays (......);

Works: glBindBuffer (GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, vbo2);
glBindVertexArray (vao2);
glMapBufferRange (.....); glUnmapBuffer (.....);
glDrawArrays (......);

Also works: glBindVertexArray (vao2);
glBindBuffer (GL_ARRAY_BUFFER, vbo2);
glMapBufferRange (.....); glUnmapBuffer (.....);
glDrawArrays (......);

The failure is just a black screen. Nothing is drawn. glGetError consistently returns GL_NO_ERROR. glGetIntegerv (GL_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING, ...) returns the wrong buffer name in both the working and non-working cases, glGetIntegerv (GL_ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING, ...) returns the correct buffer name in the working case.

If the buffer binding was not part of the VAO state it would explain everything, but according to http://www.opengl.or...ex_Array_Object it is.

The failure case occurs on an AMD 6490 M with Catalyst 12.3, Windows 7 x64, using a core GL3.3 profile. I haven't yet been able to test on other hardware.

Try doing the bind buffer after you've done the bind of the VA, rather than before.

? But I'm already doing that ?