diff --git a/basis/cocoa/views/views-docs.factor b/basis/cocoa/views/views-docs.factor
index 3b533f98c3..871326fcd4 100644
--- a/basis/cocoa/views/views-docs.factor
+++ b/basis/cocoa/views/views-docs.factor
@@ -1,13 +1,9 @@
-USING: help.syntax help.markup ;
+USING: help.syntax help.markup ui.pixel-formats ;
 IN: cocoa.views
 
-HELP: <PixelFormat>
-{ $values { "attributes" "a sequence of attributes" } { "pixelfmt" "an " { $snippet "NSOpenGLPixelFormat" } } }
-{ $description "Creates an " { $snippet "NSOpenGLPixelFormat" } " with some reasonable defaults." } ;
-
 HELP: <GLView>
-{ $values { "class" "an subclass of " { $snippet "NSOpenGLView" } } { "dim" "a pair of real numbers" } { "view" "a new " { $snippet "NSOpenGLView" } } }
-{ $description "Creates a new instance of the specified class, giving it a default pixel format and the given size." } ;
+{ $values { "class" "an subclass of " { $snippet "NSOpenGLView" } } { "dim" "a pair of real numbers" } { "pixel-format" pixel-format } { "view" "a new " { $snippet "NSOpenGLView" } } }
+{ $description "Creates a new instance of the specified class, giving it the specified pixel format and size." } ;
 
 HELP: view-dim
 { $values { "view" "an " { $snippet "NSView" } } { "dim" "a pair of real numbers" } }
@@ -18,7 +14,6 @@ HELP: mouse-location
 { $description "Outputs the current mouse location." } ;
 
 ARTICLE: "cocoa-view-utils" "Cocoa view utilities"
-{ $subsection <PixelFormat> }
 { $subsection <GLView> }
 { $subsection view-dim }
 { $subsection mouse-location } ;
diff --git a/basis/cocoa/views/views.factor b/basis/cocoa/views/views.factor
index 3c60a6a7c1..f65fddac58 100644
--- a/basis/cocoa/views/views.factor
+++ b/basis/cocoa/views/views.factor
@@ -42,39 +42,10 @@ CONSTANT: NSOpenGLPFAAllowOfflineRenderers 96
 CONSTANT: NSOpenGLPFAVirtualScreenCount 128
 CONSTANT: NSOpenGLCPSwapInterval 222
 
-<PRIVATE
-
-SYMBOL: software-renderer?
-SYMBOL: multisample?
-
-PRIVATE>
-
-: with-software-renderer ( quot -- )
-    [ t software-renderer? ] dip with-variable ; inline
-
-: with-multisample ( quot -- )
-    [ t multisample? ] dip with-variable ; inline
-
-: <PixelFormat> ( attributes -- pixelfmt )
-    NSOpenGLPixelFormat -> alloc swap [
-        %
-        NSOpenGLPFADepthSize , 16 ,
-        software-renderer? get [
-            NSOpenGLPFARendererID , kCGLRendererGenericFloatID ,
-        ] when
-        multisample? get [
-            NSOpenGLPFASupersample ,
-            NSOpenGLPFASampleBuffers , 1 ,
-            NSOpenGLPFASamples , 8 ,
-        ] when
-        0 ,
-    ] int-array{ } make
-    -> initWithAttributes:
-    -> autorelease ;
-
-: <GLView> ( class dim -- view )
-    [ -> alloc 0 0 ] dip first2 <CGRect>
-    NSOpenGLPFAWindow NSOpenGLPFADoubleBuffer 2array <PixelFormat>
+: <GLView> ( class dim pixel-format -- view )
+    [ -> alloc ]
+    [ [ 0 0 ] dip first2 <CGRect> ]
+    [ handle>> ] tri*
     -> initWithFrame:pixelFormat:
     dup 1 -> setPostsBoundsChangedNotifications:
     dup 1 -> setPostsFrameChangedNotifications: ;
diff --git a/basis/delegate/delegate-docs.factor b/basis/delegate/delegate-docs.factor
index 42b727852e..42e770aa75 100644
--- a/basis/delegate/delegate-docs.factor
+++ b/basis/delegate/delegate-docs.factor
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ HELP: CONSULT:
 
 HELP: SLOT-PROTOCOL:
 { $syntax "SLOT-PROTOCOL: protocol-name slots... ;" }
-{ $description "Defines a protocol consisting of reader and writer words for the listen slot names." } ;
+{ $description "Defines a protocol consisting of reader and writer words for the listed slot names." } ;
 
 { define-protocol POSTPONE: PROTOCOL: } related-words
 
diff --git a/basis/functors/functors-tests.factor b/basis/functors/functors-tests.factor
index b500d9f5ca..03bd21e58c 100644
--- a/basis/functors/functors-tests.factor
+++ b/basis/functors/functors-tests.factor
@@ -81,7 +81,26 @@ SYMBOL: W
 
 [ blorgh ] [ blorgh ] unit-test
 
-GENERIC: some-generic ( a -- b )
+<<
+
+FUNCTOR: generic-test ( W -- )
+
+W DEFINES ${W}
+
+WHERE
+
+GENERIC: W ( a -- b )
+M: object W ;
+M: integer W 1 + ;
+
+;FUNCTOR
+
+"snurv" generic-test
+
+>>
+
+[ 2   ] [ 1   snurv ] unit-test
+[ 3.0 ] [ 3.0 snurv ] unit-test
 
 ! Does replacing an ordinary word with a functor-generated one work?
 [ [ ] ] [
@@ -89,6 +108,7 @@ GENERIC: some-generic ( a -- b )
 
     TUPLE: some-tuple ;
     : some-word ( -- ) ;
+    GENERIC: some-generic ( a -- b )
     M: some-tuple some-generic ;
     SYMBOL: some-symbol
     "> <string-reader> "functors-test" parse-stream
@@ -97,6 +117,7 @@ GENERIC: some-generic ( a -- b )
 : test-redefinition ( -- )
     [ t ] [ "some-word" "functors.tests" lookup >boolean ] unit-test
     [ t ] [ "some-tuple" "functors.tests" lookup >boolean ] unit-test
+    [ t ] [ "some-generic" "functors.tests" lookup >boolean ] unit-test
     [ t ] [
         "some-tuple" "functors.tests" lookup
         "some-generic" "functors.tests" lookup method >boolean
@@ -109,13 +130,14 @@ FUNCTOR: redefine-test ( W -- )
 
 W-word DEFINES ${W}-word
 W-tuple DEFINES-CLASS ${W}-tuple
-W-generic IS ${W}-generic
+W-generic DEFINES ${W}-generic
 W-symbol DEFINES ${W}-symbol
 
 WHERE
 
 TUPLE: W-tuple ;
 : W-word ( -- ) ;
+GENERIC: W-generic ( a -- b )
 M: W-tuple W-generic ;
 SYMBOL: W-symbol
 
diff --git a/basis/functors/functors.factor b/basis/functors/functors.factor
index ce069ac953..edd4932c66 100644
--- a/basis/functors/functors.factor
+++ b/basis/functors/functors.factor
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 ! Copyright (C) 2008, 2009 Slava Pestov.
 ! See http://factorcode.org/license.txt for BSD license.
-USING: kernel quotations classes.tuple make combinators generic
-words interpolate namespaces sequences io.streams.string fry
-classes.mixin effects lexer parser classes.tuple.parser
-effects.parser locals.types locals.parser generic.parser
-locals.rewrite.closures vocabs.parser classes.parser
-arrays accessors words.symbol ;
+USING: accessors arrays classes.mixin classes.parser
+classes.tuple classes.tuple.parser combinators effects
+effects.parser fry generic generic.parser generic.standard
+interpolate io.streams.string kernel lexer locals.parser
+locals.rewrite.closures locals.types make namespaces parser
+quotations sequences vocabs.parser words words.symbol ;
 IN: functors
 
 ! This is a hack
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ IN: functors
 
 : define-declared* ( word def effect -- ) pick set-word define-declared ;
 
+: define-simple-generic* ( word effect -- ) over set-word define-simple-generic ;
+
 TUPLE: fake-call-next-method ;
 
 TUPLE: fake-quotation seq ;
@@ -104,6 +106,11 @@ SYNTAX: `INSTANCE:
     scan-param parsed
     \ add-mixin-instance parsed ;
 
+SYNTAX: `GENERIC:
+    scan-param parsed
+    complete-effect parsed
+    \ define-simple-generic* parsed ;
+
 SYNTAX: `inline [ word make-inline ] over push-all ;
 
 SYNTAX: `call-next-method T{ fake-call-next-method } parsed ;
@@ -130,6 +137,7 @@ DEFER: ;FUNCTOR delimiter
         { "M:" POSTPONE: `M: }
         { "C:" POSTPONE: `C: }
         { ":" POSTPONE: `: }
+        { "GENERIC:" POSTPONE: `GENERIC: }
         { "INSTANCE:" POSTPONE: `INSTANCE: }
         { "SYNTAX:" POSTPONE: `SYNTAX: }
         { "SYMBOL:" POSTPONE: `SYMBOL: }
diff --git a/extra/literals/authors.txt b/basis/literals/authors.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from extra/literals/authors.txt
rename to basis/literals/authors.txt
diff --git a/extra/literals/literals-docs.factor b/basis/literals/literals-docs.factor
similarity index 100%
rename from extra/literals/literals-docs.factor
rename to basis/literals/literals-docs.factor
diff --git a/extra/literals/literals-tests.factor b/basis/literals/literals-tests.factor
similarity index 100%
rename from extra/literals/literals-tests.factor
rename to basis/literals/literals-tests.factor
diff --git a/extra/literals/literals.factor b/basis/literals/literals.factor
similarity index 100%
rename from extra/literals/literals.factor
rename to basis/literals/literals.factor
diff --git a/extra/literals/summary.txt b/basis/literals/summary.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from extra/literals/summary.txt
rename to basis/literals/summary.txt
diff --git a/extra/literals/tags.txt b/basis/literals/tags.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from extra/literals/tags.txt
rename to basis/literals/tags.txt
diff --git a/basis/math/rectangles/rectangles-tests.factor b/basis/math/rectangles/rectangles-tests.factor
index ca722859d2..7959d98f92 100644
--- a/basis/math/rectangles/rectangles-tests.factor
+++ b/basis/math/rectangles/rectangles-tests.factor
@@ -1,42 +1,42 @@
 USING: tools.test math.rectangles ;
 IN: math.rectangles.tests
 
-[ T{ rect f { 10 10 } { 20 20 } } ]
+[ RECT: { 10 10 } { 20 20 } ]
 [
-    T{ rect f { 10 10 } { 50 50 } }
-    T{ rect f { -10 -10 } { 40 40 } }
+    RECT: { 10 10 } { 50 50 }
+    RECT: { -10 -10 } { 40 40 }
     rect-intersect
 ] unit-test
 
-[ T{ rect f { 200 200 } { 0 0 } } ]
+[ RECT: { 200 200 } { 0 0 } ]
 [
-    T{ rect f { 100 100 } { 50 50 } }
-    T{ rect f { 200 200 } { 40 40 } }
+    RECT: { 100 100 } { 50 50 }
+    RECT: { 200 200 } { 40 40 }
     rect-intersect
 ] unit-test
 
 [ f ] [
-    T{ rect f { 100 100 } { 50 50 } }
-    T{ rect f { 200 200 } { 40 40 } }
+    RECT: { 100 100 } { 50 50 }
+    RECT: { 200 200 } { 40 40 }
     contains-rect?
 ] unit-test
 
 [ t ] [
-    T{ rect f { 100 100 } { 50 50 } }
-    T{ rect f { 120 120 } { 40 40 } }
+    RECT: { 100 100 } { 50 50 }
+    RECT: { 120 120 } { 40 40 }
     contains-rect?
 ] unit-test
 
 [ f ] [
-    T{ rect f { 1000 100 } { 50 50 } }
-    T{ rect f { 120 120 } { 40 40 } }
+    RECT: { 1000 100 } { 50 50 }
+    RECT: { 120 120 } { 40 40 }
     contains-rect?
 ] unit-test
 
-[ T{ rect f { 10 20 } { 20 20 } } ] [
+[ RECT: { 10 20 } { 20 20 } ] [
     {
         { 20 20 }
         { 10 40 }
         { 30 30 }
     } rect-containing
-] unit-test
\ No newline at end of file
+] unit-test
diff --git a/basis/math/rectangles/rectangles.factor b/basis/math/rectangles/rectangles.factor
index 1d9c91328f..90174d144e 100644
--- a/basis/math/rectangles/rectangles.factor
+++ b/basis/math/rectangles/rectangles.factor
@@ -1,12 +1,18 @@
 ! Copyright (C) 2008, 2009 Slava Pestov.
 ! See http://factorcode.org/license.txt for BSD license.
-USING: kernel arrays sequences math math.vectors accessors ;
+USING: kernel arrays sequences math math.vectors accessors
+parser prettyprint.custom prettyprint.backend ;
 IN: math.rectangles
 
 TUPLE: rect { loc initial: { 0 0 } } { dim initial: { 0 0 } } ;
 
 : <rect> ( loc dim -- rect ) rect boa ; inline
 
+SYNTAX: RECT: scan-object scan-object <rect> parsed ;
+
+M: rect pprint*
+    \ RECT: [ [ loc>> ] [ dim>> ] bi [ pprint* ] bi@ ] pprint-prefix ;
+
 : <zero-rect> ( -- rect ) rect new ; inline
 
 : point>rect ( loc -- rect ) { 0 0 } <rect> ; inline
@@ -55,4 +61,4 @@ M: rect contains-point?
 : set-rect-bounds ( rect1 rect -- )
     [ [ loc>> ] dip (>>loc) ]
     [ [ dim>> ] dip (>>dim) ]
-    2bi ; inline
\ No newline at end of file
+    2bi ; inline
diff --git a/basis/opengl/gl/windows/windows.factor b/basis/opengl/gl/windows/windows.factor
index 8f48f60d3c..c8a179edf5 100644
--- a/basis/opengl/gl/windows/windows.factor
+++ b/basis/opengl/gl/windows/windows.factor
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
-USING: kernel windows.opengl32 ;
+USING: alien.syntax kernel windows.types ;
 IN: opengl.gl.windows
 
+LIBRARY: gl
+
+FUNCTION: HGLRC wglGetCurrentContext ( ) ;
+FUNCTION: void* wglGetProcAddress ( char* name ) ;
+
 : gl-function-context ( -- context ) wglGetCurrentContext ; inline
 : gl-function-address ( name -- address ) wglGetProcAddress ; inline
 : gl-function-calling-convention ( -- str ) "stdcall" ; inline
diff --git a/basis/ui/backend/cocoa/cocoa.factor b/basis/ui/backend/cocoa/cocoa.factor
index 362305c8f7..5b1b4b0c2a 100755
--- a/basis/ui/backend/cocoa/cocoa.factor
+++ b/basis/ui/backend/cocoa/cocoa.factor
@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
 ! Copyright (C) 2006, 2009 Slava Pestov.
 ! See http://factorcode.org/license.txt for BSD license.
-USING: accessors math arrays assocs cocoa cocoa.application
-command-line kernel memory namespaces cocoa.messages
-cocoa.runtime cocoa.subclassing cocoa.pasteboard cocoa.types
-cocoa.windows cocoa.classes cocoa.nibs sequences ui ui.private
-ui.backend ui.clipboards ui.gadgets ui.gadgets.worlds
-ui.backend.cocoa.views core-foundation core-foundation.run-loop
-core-graphics.types threads math.rectangles fry libc
-generalizations alien.c-types cocoa.views
-combinators io.thread locals ;
+USING: accessors alien.c-types arrays assocs classes cocoa
+cocoa.application cocoa.classes cocoa.messages cocoa.nibs
+cocoa.pasteboard cocoa.runtime cocoa.subclassing cocoa.types
+cocoa.views cocoa.windows combinators command-line
+core-foundation core-foundation.run-loop core-graphics
+core-graphics.types destructors fry generalizations io.thread
+kernel libc literals locals math math.rectangles memory
+namespaces sequences specialized-arrays.int threads ui
+ui.backend ui.backend.cocoa.views ui.clipboards ui.gadgets
+ui.gadgets.worlds ui.pixel-formats ui.pixel-formats.private
+ui.private words.symbol ;
 IN: ui.backend.cocoa
 
 TUPLE: handle ;
@@ -20,6 +22,42 @@ C: <offscreen-handle> offscreen-handle
 
 SINGLETON: cocoa-ui-backend
 
+PIXEL-FORMAT-ATTRIBUTE-TABLE: NSOpenGLPFA { } H{
+    { double-buffered { $ NSOpenGLPFADoubleBuffer } }
+    { stereo { $ NSOpenGLPFAStereo } }
+    { offscreen { $ NSOpenGLPFAOffScreen } }
+    { fullscreen { $ NSOpenGLPFAFullScreen } }
+    { windowed { $ NSOpenGLPFAWindow } }
+    { accelerated { $ NSOpenGLPFAAccelerated } }
+    { software-rendered { $ NSOpenGLPFASingleRenderer $ kCGLRendererGenericFloatID } }
+    { backing-store { $ NSOpenGLPFABackingStore } }
+    { multisampled { $ NSOpenGLPFAMultisample } }
+    { supersampled { $ NSOpenGLPFASupersample } }
+    { sample-alpha { $ NSOpenGLPFASampleAlpha } }
+    { color-float { $ NSOpenGLPFAColorFloat } }
+    { color-bits { $ NSOpenGLPFAColorSize } }
+    { alpha-bits { $ NSOpenGLPFAAlphaSize } }
+    { accum-bits { $ NSOpenGLPFAAccumSize } }
+    { depth-bits { $ NSOpenGLPFADepthSize } }
+    { stencil-bits { $ NSOpenGLPFAStencilSize } }
+    { aux-buffers { $ NSOpenGLPFAAuxBuffers } }
+    { sample-buffers { $ NSOpenGLPFASampleBuffers } }
+    { samples { $ NSOpenGLPFASamples } }
+}
+
+M: cocoa-ui-backend (make-pixel-format)
+    nip >NSOpenGLPFA-int-array
+    NSOpenGLPixelFormat -> alloc swap -> initWithAttributes: ;
+
+M: cocoa-ui-backend (free-pixel-format)
+    handle>> -> release ;
+
+M: cocoa-ui-backend (pixel-format-attribute)
+    [ handle>> ] [ >NSOpenGLPFA ] bi*
+    [ drop f ]
+    [ first 0 <int> [ swap 0 -> getValues:forAttribute:forVirtualScreen: ] keep *int ]
+    if-empty ;
+
 TUPLE: pasteboard handle ;
 
 C: <pasteboard> pasteboard
@@ -70,7 +108,8 @@ M: cocoa-ui-backend fullscreen* ( world -- ? )
     handle>> view>> -> isInFullScreenMode zero? not ;
 
 M:: cocoa-ui-backend (open-window) ( world -- )
-    world dim>> <FactorView> :> view
+    world [ [ dim>> ] dip <FactorView> ]
+    with-world-pixel-format :> view
     view world world>NSRect <ViewWindow> :> window
     view -> release
     world view register-window
@@ -97,18 +136,19 @@ M: cocoa-ui-backend raise-window* ( world -- )
     ] when* ;
 
 : pixel-size ( pixel-format -- size )
-    0 <int> [ NSOpenGLPFAColorSize 0 -> getValues:forAttribute:forVirtualScreen: ]
-    keep *int -3 shift ;
+    color-bits pixel-format-attribute -3 shift ;
 
 : offscreen-buffer ( world pixel-format -- alien w h pitch )
     [ dim>> first2 ] [ pixel-size ] bi*
     { [ * * malloc ] [ 2drop ] [ drop nip ] [ nip * ] } 3cleave ;
 
-: gadget-offscreen-context ( world -- context buffer )
-    NSOpenGLPFAOffScreen 1array <PixelFormat>
-    [ nip NSOpenGLContext -> alloc swap f -> initWithFormat:shareContext: dup ]
-    [ offscreen-buffer ] 2bi
-    4 npick [ -> setOffScreen:width:height:rowbytes: ] dip ;
+:: gadget-offscreen-context ( world -- context buffer )
+    world [
+        nip :> pf
+        NSOpenGLContext -> alloc pf handle>> f -> initWithFormat:shareContext:
+        dup world pf offscreen-buffer
+        4 npick [ -> setOffScreen:width:height:rowbytes: ] dip
+    ] with-world-pixel-format ;
 
 M: cocoa-ui-backend (open-offscreen-buffer) ( world -- )
     dup gadget-offscreen-context <offscreen-handle> >>handle drop ;
diff --git a/basis/ui/backend/cocoa/views/views.factor b/basis/ui/backend/cocoa/views/views.factor
index 602c9bec73..4a16e3bd37 100644
--- a/basis/ui/backend/cocoa/views/views.factor
+++ b/basis/ui/backend/cocoa/views/views.factor
@@ -365,8 +365,8 @@ CLASS: {
     -> openGLContext -> CGLContextObj NSOpenGLCPSwapInterval 1 <int>
     CGLSetParameter drop ;
 
-: <FactorView> ( dim -- view )
-    FactorView swap <GLView> [ sync-refresh-to-screen ] keep ;
+: <FactorView> ( dim pixel-format -- view )
+    [ FactorView ] 2dip <GLView> [ sync-refresh-to-screen ] keep ;
 
 : save-position ( world window -- )
     -> frame CGRect-top-left 2array >>window-loc drop ;
diff --git a/basis/ui/backend/windows/windows.factor b/basis/ui/backend/windows/windows.factor
index 76c0dc4e01..24ae72740f 100755
--- a/basis/ui/backend/windows/windows.factor
+++ b/basis/ui/backend/windows/windows.factor
@@ -10,11 +10,161 @@ windows.messages windows.types windows.offscreen windows.nt
 threads libc combinators fry combinators.short-circuit continuations
 command-line shuffle opengl ui.render ascii math.bitwise locals
 accessors math.rectangles math.order ascii calendar
-io.encodings.utf16n windows.errors ;
+io.encodings.utf16n windows.errors literals ui.pixel-formats 
+ui.pixel-formats.private memoize classes ;
 IN: ui.backend.windows
 
 SINGLETON: windows-ui-backend
 
+TUPLE: win-base hDC hRC ;
+TUPLE: win < win-base hWnd world title ;
+TUPLE: win-offscreen < win-base hBitmap bits ;
+C: <win> win
+C: <win-offscreen> win-offscreen
+
+<PRIVATE
+
+PIXEL-FORMAT-ATTRIBUTE-TABLE: WGL_ARB { $ WGL_SUPPORT_OPENGL_ARB 1 } H{
+    { double-buffered { $ WGL_DOUBLE_BUFFER_ARB 1 } }
+    { stereo { $ WGL_STEREO_ARB 1 } }
+    { offscreen { $ WGL_DRAW_TO_BITMAP_ARB 1 } }
+    { fullscreen { $ WGL_DRAW_TO_WINDOW_ARB 1 } }
+    { windowed { $ WGL_DRAW_TO_WINDOW_ARB 1 } }
+    { accelerated { $ WGL_ACCELERATION_ARB $ WGL_FULL_ACCELERATION_ARB } }
+    { software-rendered { $ WGL_ACCELERATION_ARB $ WGL_NO_ACCELERATION_ARB } }
+    { backing-store { $ WGL_SWAP_METHOD_ARB $ WGL_SWAP_COPY_ARB } }
+    { color-float { $ WGL_TYPE_RGBA_FLOAT_ARB 1 } }
+    { color-bits { $ WGL_COLOR_BITS_ARB } }
+    { red-bits { $ WGL_RED_BITS_ARB } }
+    { green-bits { $ WGL_GREEN_BITS_ARB } }
+    { blue-bits { $ WGL_BLUE_BITS_ARB } }
+    { alpha-bits { $ WGL_ALPHA_BITS_ARB } }
+    { accum-bits { $ WGL_ACCUM_BITS_ARB } }
+    { accum-red-bits { $ WGL_ACCUM_RED_BITS_ARB } }
+    { accum-green-bits { $ WGL_ACCUM_GREEN_BITS_ARB } }
+    { accum-blue-bits { $ WGL_ACCUM_BLUE_BITS_ARB } }
+    { accum-alpha-bits { $ WGL_ACCUM_ALPHA_BITS_ARB } }
+    { depth-bits { $ WGL_DEPTH_BITS_ARB } }
+    { stencil-bits { $ WGL_STENCIL_BITS_ARB } }
+    { aux-buffers { $ WGL_AUX_BUFFERS_ARB } }
+    { sample-buffers { $ WGL_SAMPLE_BUFFERS_ARB } }
+    { samples { $ WGL_SAMPLES_ARB } }
+}
+
+MEMO: (has-wglChoosePixelFormatARB?) ( dc -- ? )
+    { "WGL_ARB_pixel_format" } has-wgl-extensions? ;
+: has-wglChoosePixelFormatARB? ( world -- ? )
+    handle>> hDC>> (has-wglChoosePixelFormatARB?) ;
+
+: arb-make-pixel-format ( world attributes -- pf )
+    [ handle>> hDC>> ] dip >WGL_ARB-int-array f 1 0 <int> 0 <int>
+    [ wglChoosePixelFormatARB win32-error=0/f ] 2keep drop *int ;
+
+: arb-pixel-format-attribute ( pixel-format attribute -- value )
+    >WGL_ARB
+    [ drop f ] [
+        [ [ world>> handle>> hDC>> ] [ handle>> ] bi 0 1 ] dip
+        first <int> 0 <int>
+        [ wglGetPixelFormatAttribivARB win32-error=0/f ]
+        keep *int
+    ] if-empty ;
+
+CONSTANT: pfd-flag-map H{
+    { double-buffered $ PFD_DOUBLEBUFFER }
+    { stereo $ PFD_STEREO }
+    { offscreen $ PFD_DRAW_TO_BITMAP }
+    { fullscreen $ PFD_DRAW_TO_WINDOW }
+    { windowed $ PFD_DRAW_TO_WINDOW }
+    { backing-store $ PFD_SWAP_COPY }
+    { software-rendered $ PFD_GENERIC_FORMAT }
+}
+
+: >pfd-flag ( attribute -- value )
+    pfd-flag-map at [ ] [ 0 ] if* ;
+
+: >pfd-flags ( attributes -- flags )
+    [ >pfd-flag ] [ bitor ] map-reduce
+    PFD_SUPPORT_OPENGL bitor ;
+
+: attr-value ( attributes name -- value )
+    [ instance? ] curry find nip
+    [ value>> ] [ 0 ] if* ;
+
+: >pfd ( attributes -- pfd )
+    "PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR" <c-object>
+    "PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR" heap-size over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-nSize
+    1 over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-nVersion
+    over >pfd-flags over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-dwFlags
+    PFD_TYPE_RGBA over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-iPixelType
+    over color-bits attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cColorBits
+    over red-bits attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cRedBits
+    over green-bits attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cGreenBits
+    over blue-bits attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cBlueBits
+    over alpha-bits attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAlphaBits
+    over accum-bits attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAccumBits
+    over accum-red-bits attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAccumRedBits
+    over accum-green-bits attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAccumGreenBits
+    over accum-blue-bits attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAccumBlueBits
+    over accum-alpha-bits attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAccumAlphaBits
+    over depth-bits attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cDepthBits
+    over stencil-bits attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cStencilBits
+    over aux-buffers attr-value over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAuxBuffers
+    PFD_MAIN_PLANE over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-dwLayerMask
+    nip ;
+
+: pfd-make-pixel-format ( world attributes -- pf )
+    [ handle>> hDC>> ] [ >pfd ] bi*
+    ChoosePixelFormat dup win32-error=0/f ;
+
+: get-pfd ( pixel-format -- pfd )
+    [ world>> handle>> hDC>> ] [ handle>> ] bi
+    "PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR" heap-size
+    "PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR" <c-object>
+    [ DescribePixelFormat win32-error=0/f ] keep ;
+
+: pfd-flag? ( pfd flag -- ? )
+    [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-dwFlags ] dip bitand c-bool> ;
+
+: (pfd-pixel-format-attribute) ( pfd attribute -- value )
+    {
+        { double-buffered [ PFD_DOUBLEBUFFER pfd-flag? ] }
+        { stereo [ PFD_STEREO pfd-flag? ] }
+        { offscreen [ PFD_DRAW_TO_BITMAP pfd-flag? ] }
+        { fullscreen [ PFD_DRAW_TO_WINDOW pfd-flag? ] }
+        { windowed [ PFD_DRAW_TO_WINDOW pfd-flag? ] }
+        { software-rendered [ PFD_GENERIC_FORMAT pfd-flag? ] }
+        { color-bits [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cColorBits ] }
+        { red-bits [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cRedBits ] }
+        { green-bits [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cGreenBits ] }
+        { blue-bits [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cBlueBits ] }
+        { alpha-bits [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAlphaBits ] }
+        { accum-bits [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAccumBits ] }
+        { accum-red-bits [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAccumRedBits ] }
+        { accum-green-bits [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAccumGreenBits ] }
+        { accum-blue-bits [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAccumBlueBits ] }
+        { accum-alpha-bits [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAccumAlphaBits ] }
+        { depth-bits [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cDepthBits ] }
+        { stencil-bits [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cStencilBits ] }
+        { aux-buffers [ PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cAuxBuffers ] }
+        [ 2drop f ]
+    } case ;
+
+: pfd-pixel-format-attribute ( pixel-format attribute -- value )
+    [ get-pfd ] dip (pfd-pixel-format-attribute) ;
+
+M: windows-ui-backend (make-pixel-format)
+    over has-wglChoosePixelFormatARB?
+    [ arb-make-pixel-format ] [ pfd-make-pixel-format ] if ;
+
+M: windows-ui-backend (free-pixel-format)
+    drop ;
+
+M: windows-ui-backend (pixel-format-attribute)
+    over world>> has-wglChoosePixelFormatARB?
+    [ arb-pixel-format-attribute ] [ pfd-pixel-format-attribute ] if ;
+
+PRIVATE>
+
 : lo-word ( wparam -- lo ) <short> *short ; inline
 : hi-word ( wparam -- hi ) -16 shift lo-word ; inline
 : >lo-hi ( WORD -- array ) [ lo-word ] [ hi-word ] bi 2array ;
@@ -73,12 +223,6 @@ M: pasteboard set-clipboard-contents drop copy ;
     <pasteboard> clipboard set-global
     <clipboard> selection set-global ;
 
-TUPLE: win-base hDC hRC ;
-TUPLE: win < win-base hWnd world title ;
-TUPLE: win-offscreen < win-base hBitmap bits ;
-C: <win> win
-C: <win-offscreen> win-offscreen
-
 SYMBOLS: msg-obj class-name-ptr mouse-captured ;
 
 : style ( -- n ) WS_OVERLAPPEDWINDOW ; inline
@@ -477,25 +621,24 @@ M: windows-ui-backend do-events
     f class-name-ptr set-global
     f msg-obj set-global ;
 
-: setup-pixel-format ( hdc flags -- )
-    32 make-pfd [ ChoosePixelFormat dup win32-error=0/f ] 2keep
-    swapd SetPixelFormat win32-error=0/f ;
+: get-dc ( world -- ) handle>> dup hWnd>> GetDC dup win32-error=0/f >>hDC drop ;
 
-: get-dc ( hWnd -- hDC ) GetDC dup win32-error=0/f ;
+: get-rc ( world -- )
+    handle>> dup hDC>> dup wglCreateContext dup win32-error=0/f
+    [ wglMakeCurrent win32-error=0/f ] keep >>hRC drop ;
 
-: get-rc ( hDC -- hRC )
-    dup wglCreateContext dup win32-error=0/f
-    [ wglMakeCurrent win32-error=0/f ] keep ;
+: set-pixel-format ( pixel-format hdc -- )
+    swap handle>> "PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR" <c-object> SetPixelFormat win32-error=0/f ;
 
-: setup-gl ( hwnd -- hDC hRC )
-    get-dc dup windowed-pfd-dwFlags setup-pixel-format dup get-rc ;
+: setup-gl ( world -- )
+    [ get-dc ] keep
+    [ swap [ handle>> hDC>> set-pixel-format ] [ get-rc ] bi ]
+    with-world-pixel-format ;
 
 M: windows-ui-backend (open-window) ( world -- )
-    [ create-window [ setup-gl ] keep ] keep
-    [ f <win> ] keep
-    [ swap hWnd>> register-window ] 2keep
-    dupd (>>handle)
-    hWnd>> show-window ;
+    [ dup create-window [ f f ] dip f f <win> >>handle setup-gl ]
+    [ dup handle>> hWnd>> register-window ]
+    [ handle>> hWnd>> show-window ] tri ;
 
 M: win-base select-gl-context ( handle -- )
     [ hDC>> ] [ hRC>> ] bi wglMakeCurrent win32-error=0/f
@@ -504,15 +647,15 @@ M: win-base select-gl-context ( handle -- )
 M: win-base flush-gl-context ( handle -- )
     hDC>> SwapBuffers win32-error=0/f ;
 
-: setup-offscreen-gl ( dim -- hDC hRC hBitmap bits )
-    make-offscreen-dc-and-bitmap [
-        [ dup offscreen-pfd-dwFlags setup-pixel-format ]
-        [ get-rc ] bi
-    ] 2dip ;
+: setup-offscreen-gl ( world -- )
+    dup [ handle>> ] [ dim>> ] bi make-offscreen-dc-and-bitmap
+    [ >>hDC ] [ >>hBitmap ] [ >>bits ] tri* drop [
+        swap [ handle>> hDC>> set-pixel-format ] [ get-rc ] bi
+    ] with-world-pixel-format ;
 
 M: windows-ui-backend (open-offscreen-buffer) ( world -- )
-    dup dim>> setup-offscreen-gl <win-offscreen>
-    >>handle drop ;
+    win-offscreen new >>handle
+    setup-offscreen-gl ;
 
 M: windows-ui-backend (close-offscreen-buffer) ( handle -- )
     [ hDC>> DeleteDC drop ]
diff --git a/basis/ui/backend/x11/x11.factor b/basis/ui/backend/x11/x11.factor
index fb78abe917..76fd9fa30c 100755
--- a/basis/ui/backend/x11/x11.factor
+++ b/basis/ui/backend/x11/x11.factor
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ namespaces opengl sequences strings x11 x11.xlib x11.events x11.xim
 x11.glx x11.clipboard x11.constants x11.windows x11.io
 io.encodings.string io.encodings.ascii io.encodings.utf8 combinators
 command-line math.vectors classes.tuple opengl.gl threads
-math.rectangles environment ascii ;
+math.rectangles environment ascii literals
+ui.pixel-formats ui.pixel-formats.private ;
 IN: ui.backend.x11
 
 SINGLETON: x11-ui-backend
@@ -29,6 +30,40 @@ M: world configure-event
     ! In case dimensions didn't change
     relayout-1 ;
 
+PIXEL-FORMAT-ATTRIBUTE-TABLE: glx-visual { $ GLX_USE_GL $ GLX_RGBA } H{
+    { double-buffered { $ GLX_DOUBLEBUFFER } }
+    { stereo { $ GLX_STEREO } }
+    { color-bits { $ GLX_BUFFER_SIZE } }
+    { red-bits { $ GLX_RED_SIZE } }
+    { green-bits { $ GLX_GREEN_SIZE } }
+    { blue-bits { $ GLX_BLUE_SIZE } }
+    { alpha-bits { $ GLX_ALPHA_SIZE } }
+    { accum-red-bits { $ GLX_ACCUM_RED_SIZE } }
+    { accum-green-bits { $ GLX_ACCUM_GREEN_SIZE } }
+    { accum-blue-bits { $ GLX_ACCUM_BLUE_SIZE } }
+    { accum-alpha-bits { $ GLX_ACCUM_ALPHA_SIZE } }
+    { depth-bits { $ GLX_DEPTH_SIZE } }
+    { stencil-bits { $ GLX_STENCIL_SIZE } }
+    { aux-buffers { $ GLX_AUX_BUFFERS } }
+    { sample-buffers { $ GLX_SAMPLE_BUFFERS } }
+    { samples { $ GLX_SAMPLES } }
+}
+
+M: x11-ui-backend (make-pixel-format)
+    [ drop dpy get scr get ] dip
+    >glx-visual-int-array glXChooseVisual ;
+
+M: x11-ui-backend (free-pixel-format)
+    handle>> XFree ;
+
+M: x11-ui-backend (pixel-format-attribute)
+    [ dpy get ] 2dip
+    [ handle>> ] [ >glx-visual ] bi*
+    [ 2drop f ] [
+        first
+        0 <int> [ glXGetConfig drop ] keep *int
+    ] if-empty ;
+
 CONSTANT: modifiers
     {
         { S+ HEX: 1 }
@@ -187,7 +222,8 @@ M: world client-event
 
 : gadget-window ( world -- )
     dup
-    [ window-loc>> ] [ dim>> ] bi glx-window swap
+    [ [ [ window-loc>> ] [ dim>> ] bi ] dip handle>> glx-window ]
+    with-world-pixel-format swap
     dup "Factor" create-xic
     <x11-handle>
     [ window>> register-window ] [ >>handle drop ] 2bi ;
@@ -274,7 +310,9 @@ M: x11-pixmap-handle flush-gl-context ( handle -- )
     drop ;
 
 M: x11-ui-backend (open-offscreen-buffer) ( world -- )
-    dup dim>> glx-pixmap <x11-pixmap-handle> >>handle drop ;
+    dup [ [ dim>> ] [ handle>> ] bi* glx-pixmap ]
+    with-world-pixel-format
+    <x11-pixmap-handle> >>handle drop ;
 M: x11-ui-backend (close-offscreen-buffer) ( handle -- )
     dpy get swap
     [ glx-pixmap>> glXDestroyGLXPixmap ]
diff --git a/basis/ui/gadgets/worlds/worlds-docs.factor b/basis/ui/gadgets/worlds/worlds-docs.factor
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index e3c1226f22..9d4df189f2
--- a/basis/ui/gadgets/worlds/worlds-docs.factor
+++ b/basis/ui/gadgets/worlds/worlds-docs.factor
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 USING: ui.gadgets ui.render ui.text ui.text.private
 ui.gestures ui.backend help.markup help.syntax
-models opengl strings ;
+models opengl sequences strings ;
 IN: ui.gadgets.worlds
 
 HELP: user-input
diff --git a/basis/ui/gadgets/worlds/worlds.factor b/basis/ui/gadgets/worlds/worlds.factor
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index a186de7670..171272dfc1
--- a/basis/ui/gadgets/worlds/worlds.factor
+++ b/basis/ui/gadgets/worlds/worlds.factor
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ USING: accessors arrays assocs continuations kernel math models
 namespaces opengl opengl.textures sequences io combinators
 combinators.short-circuit fry math.vectors math.rectangles cache
 ui.gadgets ui.gestures ui.render ui.backend ui.gadgets.tracks
-ui.commands ;
+ui.commands ui.pixel-formats destructors ;
 IN: ui.gadgets.worlds
 
 TUPLE: world < track
@@ -149,3 +149,14 @@ M: world handle-gesture ( gesture gadget -- ? )
 
 : close-global ( world global -- )
     [ get-global find-world eq? ] keep '[ f _ set-global ] when ;
+
+M: world world-pixel-format-attributes
+    drop
+    { windowed double-buffered T{ depth-bits { value 16 } } } ;
+
+M: world check-world-pixel-format
+    2drop ;
+
+: with-world-pixel-format ( world quot -- )
+    [ dup dup world-pixel-format-attributes <pixel-format> ]
+    dip [ 2dup check-world-pixel-format ] prepose with-disposal ; inline
diff --git a/basis/ui/pixel-formats/authors.txt b/basis/ui/pixel-formats/authors.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f13c9c1e77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/basis/ui/pixel-formats/authors.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Joe Groff
diff --git a/basis/ui/pixel-formats/pixel-formats-docs.factor b/basis/ui/pixel-formats/pixel-formats-docs.factor
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..207b757908
--- /dev/null
+++ b/basis/ui/pixel-formats/pixel-formats-docs.factor
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+USING: destructors help.markup help.syntax kernel math multiline sequences
+vocabs vocabs.parser words ;
+IN: ui.pixel-formats
+
+! break circular dependency
+<<
+    "ui.gadgets.worlds" create-vocab drop
+    "world" "ui.gadgets.worlds" create drop
+    "ui.gadgets.worlds" (use+)
+>>
+
+ARTICLE: "ui.pixel-formats-attributes" "Pixel format attributes"
+"The following pixel format attributes can be requested and queried of " { $link pixel-format } "s. Binary attributes are represented by the presence of a symbol in an attribute sequence:"
+{ $subsection double-buffered }
+{ $subsection stereo }
+{ $subsection offscreen }
+{ $subsection fullscreen }
+{ $subsection windowed }
+{ $subsection accelerated }
+{ $subsection software-rendered }
+{ $subsection backing-store }
+{ $subsection multisampled }
+{ $subsection supersampled }
+{ $subsection sample-alpha }
+{ $subsection color-float }
+"Integer attributes are represented by a " { $link tuple } " with a single " { $snippet "value" } "slot:"
+{ $subsection color-bits }
+{ $subsection red-bits }
+{ $subsection green-bits }
+{ $subsection blue-bits }
+{ $subsection alpha-bits }
+{ $subsection accum-bits }
+{ $subsection accum-red-bits }
+{ $subsection accum-green-bits }
+{ $subsection accum-blue-bits }
+{ $subsection accum-alpha-bits }
+{ $subsection depth-bits }
+{ $subsection stencil-bits }
+{ $subsection aux-buffers }
+{ $subsection sample-buffers }
+{ $subsection samples }
+{ $examples
+"The following " { $link world } " subclass will request a double-buffered window with minimum 24-bit color and depth buffers, and will throw an error if the requirements aren't met:"
+{ $code <"
+USING: kernel ui.worlds ui.pixel-formats ;
+IN: ui.pixel-formats.examples
+
+TUPLE: picky-depth-buffered-world < world ;
+
+M: picky-depth-buffered-world world-pixel-format-attributes
+    drop {
+        double-buffered
+        T{ color-bits { value 24 } }
+        T{ depth-bits { value 24 } }
+    } ;
+
+M: picky-depth-buffered-world check-world-pixel-format
+    nip
+    [ double-buffered pixel-format-attribute 0 = [ "Not double buffered!" throw ] when ]
+    [ color-bits pixel-format-attribute 24 < [ "Not enough color bits!" throw ] when ]
+    [ depth-bits pixel-format-attribute 24 < [ "Not enough depth bits!" throw ] when ]
+    tri ;
+"> } }
+;
+
+HELP: double-buffered
+{ $class-description "Requests a double-buffered pixel format." } ;
+HELP: stereo
+{ $class-description "Requests a stereoscopic pixel format." } ;
+
+HELP: offscreen
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format suitable for offscreen rendering." } ;
+HELP: fullscreen
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format suitable for fullscreen rendering." }
+{ $notes "On some window systems this is not distinct from " { $link windowed } "." } ;
+HELP: windowed
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format suitable for rendering to a window." } ;
+
+{ offscreen fullscreen windowed } related-words
+
+HELP: accelerated
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format supported by GPU hardware acceleration." } ;
+HELP: software-rendered
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format only supported by the window system's default software renderer." } ;
+
+{ accelerated software-rendered } related-words
+
+HELP: backing-store
+{ $class-description "Used with " { $link double-buffered } " to request a double-buffered pixel format where the back buffer contents are preserved and copied to the front when buffers are swapped." } ;
+
+{ double-buffered backing-store } related-words
+
+HELP: multisampled
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with multisampled antialiasing enabled. The " { $link sample-buffers } " and " { $link samples } " attributes must also be specified to specify the level of multisampling." }
+{ $notes "On some window systems this is not distinct from " { $link supersampled } "." } ;
+
+HELP: supersampled
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with supersampled antialiasing enabled. The " { $link sample-buffers } " and " { $link samples } " attributes must also be specified to specify the level of supersampling." }
+{ $notes "On some window systems this is not distinct from " { $link multisampled } "." } ;
+
+HELP: sample-alpha
+{ $class-description "Used with " { $link multisampled } " or " { $link supersampled } " to request more accurate multisampling of alpha values." } ;
+
+HELP: color-float
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format where the pixels are stored in floating-point format." } ;
+
+HELP: color-bits
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format of at least " { $snippet "value" } " bits per pixel." } ;
+HELP: red-bits
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with at least " { $snippet "value" } " red bits per pixel." } ;
+HELP: green-bits
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with at least " { $snippet "value" } " green bits per pixel." } ;
+HELP: blue-bits
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with at least " { $snippet "value" } " blue bits per pixel." } ;
+HELP: alpha-bits
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with at least " { $snippet "value" } " alpha bits per pixel." } ;
+
+{ color-float color-bits red-bits green-bits blue-bits alpha-bits } related-words
+
+HELP: accum-bits
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with an accumulation buffer of at least " { $snippet "value" } " bits per pixel." } ;
+HELP: accum-red-bits
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with an accumulation buffer with at least " { $snippet "value" } " red bits per pixel." } ;
+HELP: accum-green-bits
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with an accumulation buffer with at least " { $snippet "value" } " green bits per pixel." } ;
+HELP: accum-blue-bits
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with an accumulation buffer with at least " { $snippet "value" } " blue bits per pixel." } ;
+HELP: accum-alpha-bits
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with an accumulation buffer with at least " { $snippet "value" } " alpha bits per pixel." } ;
+
+{ accum-bits accum-red-bits accum-green-bits accum-blue-bits accum-alpha-bits } related-words
+
+HELP: depth-bits
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with a depth buffer of at least " { $snippet "value" } " bits per pixel." } ;
+
+HELP: stencil-bits
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with a stencil buffer of at least " { $snippet "value" } " bits per pixel." } ;
+
+HELP: aux-buffers
+{ $class-description "Requests a pixel format with at least " { $snippet "value" } " auxiliary buffers." } ;
+
+HELP: sample-buffers
+{ $class-description "Used with " { $link multisampled } " or " { $link supersampled } " to request a pixel format with at least " { $snippet "value" } " sampling buffers." } ;
+
+HELP: samples
+{ $class-description "Used with " { $link multisampled } " or " { $link supersampled } " to request at least " { $snippet "value" } " samples per pixel." } ;
+
+{ multisampled supersampled sample-alpha sample-buffers samples } related-words
+
+HELP: world-pixel-format-attributes
+{ $values { "world" world } { "attributes" sequence } }
+{ $description "Returns the set of " { $link "ui.pixel-formats-attributes" } " that " { $snippet "world" } " requests when grafted. This generic can be overridden by subclasses of " { $snippet "world" } "." }
+{ $notes "The pixel format provided by the window system will not necessarily exactly match the requested attributes. To verify required pixel format attributes, override " { $link check-world-pixel-format } "." } ;
+
+HELP: check-world-pixel-format
+{ $values { "world" world } { "pixel-format" pixel-format } }
+{ $description "Verifies that " { $snippet "pixel-format" } " fulfills the requirements of " { $snippet "world" } ". The default method does nothing. Subclasses can override this generic to perform their own checks on the pixel format." } ;
+
+HELP: pixel-format
+{ $class-description "The type of pixel format objects. The tuple slot contents should be considered opaque by user code. To check the value of a pixel format's attributes, use the " { $link pixel-format-attribute } " word. Pixel format objects must be freed using the " { $link dispose } " word when they are no longer needed." } ;
+
+HELP: <pixel-format>
+{ $values { "world" world } { "attributes" sequence } { "pixel-format" pixel-format } }
+{ $description "Requests a pixel format suitable for " { $snippet "world" } " with a set of " { $link "ui.pixel-formats-attributes" } ". If no pixel format can be found that satisfies the given attributes, an " { $link invalid-pixel-format-attributes } " error is thrown. Pixel format attributes not supported by the window system are ignored. The returned " { $snippet "pixel-format" } " must be released using the " { $link dispose } " word when it is no longer needed." }
+{ $notes "Pixel formats don't normally need to be directly allocated by user code. If you need to control the pixel format requested by a window, subclass " { $snippet "world" } " and override the " { $link world-pixel-format-attributes } " and " { $link check-world-pixel-format } " words."
+$nl
+"The returned pixel format does not necessarily exactly match the requested attributes; the window system will try to find the format that best matches the given attributes. Use " { $link pixel-format-attribute } " to check the actual values of the attributes on the returned pixel format." }
+;
+
+HELP: pixel-format-attribute
+{ $values { "pixel-format" pixel-format } { "attribute-name" "one of the " { $link "ui.pixel-formats-attributes" } } { "value" object } }
+{ $description "Returns the value of the requested " { $snippet "attribute-name" } " in " { $snippet "pixel-format" } ". If " { "attribute-name" } " is unsupported by the window system, " { $link f } " is returned." } ;
+
+HELP: invalid-pixel-format-attributes
+{ $values { "world" world } { "attributes" sequence } }
+{ $class-description "Thrown by " { $link <pixel-format> } " when the window system is unable to find a pixel format for " { $snippet "world" } " that satisfies the requested " { $snippet "attributes" } "." } ;
+
+{ world-pixel-format-attributes check-world-pixel-format pixel-format <pixel-format> pixel-format-attribute }
+related-words
+
+ARTICLE: "ui.pixel-formats" "Pixel formats"
+"The UI allows you to control the window system's OpenGL interface with a cross-platform set of pixel format specifiers:"
+{ $subsection "ui.pixel-formats-attributes" }
+
+"Pixel formats can be requested using these attributes:"
+{ $subsection pixel-format }
+{ $subsection <pixel-format> }
+{ $subsection pixel-format-attribute }
+
+"If a request for a set of pixel format attributes cannot be satisfied, an error is thrown:"
+{ $subsection invalid-pixel-format-attributes }
+
+"Pixel formats are requested as part of opening a window for a " { $link world } ". These generics can be overridden on " { $snippet "world" } " subclasses to control pixel format selection:"
+{ $subsection world-pixel-format-attributes }
+{ $subsection check-world-pixel-format }
+;
+
+ABOUT: "ui.pixel-formats"
diff --git a/basis/ui/pixel-formats/pixel-formats.factor b/basis/ui/pixel-formats/pixel-formats.factor
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..52abf44362
--- /dev/null
+++ b/basis/ui/pixel-formats/pixel-formats.factor
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+USING: accessors assocs classes destructors functors kernel
+lexer math parser sequences specialized-arrays.int ui.backend
+words.symbol ;
+IN: ui.pixel-formats
+
+SYMBOLS:
+    double-buffered
+    stereo
+    offscreen
+    fullscreen
+    windowed
+    accelerated
+    software-rendered
+    backing-store
+    multisampled
+    supersampled 
+    sample-alpha
+    color-float ;
+
+TUPLE: pixel-format-attribute { value integer } ;
+
+TUPLE: color-bits < pixel-format-attribute ;
+TUPLE: red-bits < pixel-format-attribute ;
+TUPLE: green-bits < pixel-format-attribute ;
+TUPLE: blue-bits < pixel-format-attribute ;
+TUPLE: alpha-bits < pixel-format-attribute ;
+
+TUPLE: accum-bits < pixel-format-attribute ;
+TUPLE: accum-red-bits < pixel-format-attribute ;
+TUPLE: accum-green-bits < pixel-format-attribute ;
+TUPLE: accum-blue-bits < pixel-format-attribute ;
+TUPLE: accum-alpha-bits < pixel-format-attribute ;
+
+TUPLE: depth-bits < pixel-format-attribute ;
+
+TUPLE: stencil-bits < pixel-format-attribute ;
+
+TUPLE: aux-buffers < pixel-format-attribute ;
+
+TUPLE: sample-buffers < pixel-format-attribute ;
+TUPLE: samples < pixel-format-attribute ;
+
+HOOK: (make-pixel-format) ui-backend ( world attributes -- pixel-format-handle )
+HOOK: (free-pixel-format) ui-backend ( pixel-format -- )
+HOOK: (pixel-format-attribute) ui-backend ( pixel-format attribute-name -- value )
+
+ERROR: invalid-pixel-format-attributes world attributes ;
+
+TUPLE: pixel-format world handle ;
+
+: <pixel-format> ( world attributes -- pixel-format )
+    2dup (make-pixel-format)
+    [ nip pixel-format boa ] [ invalid-pixel-format-attributes ] if* ;
+
+M: pixel-format dispose
+    [ (free-pixel-format) ] [ f >>handle drop ] bi ;
+
+: pixel-format-attribute ( pixel-format attribute-name -- value )
+    (pixel-format-attribute) ;
+
+<PRIVATE
+
+FUNCTOR: define-pixel-format-attribute-table ( NAME PERM TABLE -- )
+
+>PFA              DEFINES >${NAME}
+>PFA-int-array    DEFINES >${NAME}-int-array
+
+WHERE
+
+GENERIC: >PFA ( attribute -- pfas )
+
+M: object >PFA
+    drop { } ;
+M: symbol >PFA
+    TABLE at [ { } ] unless* ;
+M: pixel-format-attribute >PFA
+    dup class TABLE at
+    [ swap value>> suffix ]
+    [ drop { } ] if* ;
+
+: >PFA-int-array ( attribute -- int-array )
+    [ >PFA ] map concat PERM prepend 0 suffix >int-array ;
+
+;FUNCTOR
+
+SYNTAX: PIXEL-FORMAT-ATTRIBUTE-TABLE:
+    scan scan-object scan-object define-pixel-format-attribute-table ;
+
+PRIVATE>
+
+GENERIC: world-pixel-format-attributes ( world -- attributes )
+
+GENERIC# check-world-pixel-format 1 ( world pixel-format -- )
+
diff --git a/basis/ui/pixel-formats/summary.txt b/basis/ui/pixel-formats/summary.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..517f42458b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/basis/ui/pixel-formats/summary.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Cross-platform OpenGL context pixel format specifiers
diff --git a/basis/ui/text/text.factor b/basis/ui/text/text.factor
index 2edb20fc22..c1f05182e6 100755
--- a/basis/ui/text/text.factor
+++ b/basis/ui/text/text.factor
@@ -75,10 +75,8 @@ M: array draw-text
 
 USING: vocabs.loader namespaces system combinators ;
 
-"ui-backend" get [
-    {
-        { [ os macosx? ] [ "core-text" ] }
-        { [ os windows? ] [ "uniscribe" ] }
-        { [ os unix? ] [ "pango" ] }
-    } cond
-] unless* "ui.text." prepend require
\ No newline at end of file
+{
+    { [ os macosx? ] [ "core-text" ] }
+    { [ os windows? ] [ "uniscribe" ] }
+    { [ os unix? ] [ "pango" ] }
+} cond "ui.text." prepend require
diff --git a/basis/windows/gdi32/gdi32.factor b/basis/windows/gdi32/gdi32.factor
index 9b7cd2e35e..0699c92be3 100755
--- a/basis/windows/gdi32/gdi32.factor
+++ b/basis/windows/gdi32/gdi32.factor
@@ -1419,7 +1419,7 @@ DESTRUCTOR: DeleteDC
 ! FUNCTION: DeleteMetaFile
 FUNCTION: BOOL DeleteObject ( HGDIOBJ hObject ) ;
 DESTRUCTOR: DeleteObject
-! FUNCTION: DescribePixelFormat
+FUNCTION: int DescribePixelFormat ( HDC hdc, int iPixelFormat, UINT nBytes, PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR* ppfd ) ;
 ! FUNCTION: DeviceCapabilitiesExA
 ! FUNCTION: DeviceCapabilitiesExW
 ! FUNCTION: DPtoLP
diff --git a/basis/windows/opengl32/opengl32.factor b/basis/windows/opengl32/opengl32.factor
index d0b396eba2..4173332dc3 100755
--- a/basis/windows/opengl32/opengl32.factor
+++ b/basis/windows/opengl32/opengl32.factor
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 ! Copyright (C) 2005, 2006 Doug Coleman.
 ! See http://factorcode.org/license.txt for BSD license.
 USING: alien alien.c-types alien.syntax parser namespaces kernel
-math math.bitwise windows.types windows.types init assocs
-sequences libc ;
+math math.bitwise windows.types init assocs splitting
+sequences libc opengl.gl opengl.gl.extensions opengl.gl.windows ;
 IN: windows.opengl32
 
 ! PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR flags
@@ -71,22 +71,6 @@ CONSTANT: WGL_SWAP_UNDERLAY13     HEX: 10000000
 CONSTANT: WGL_SWAP_UNDERLAY14     HEX: 20000000
 CONSTANT: WGL_SWAP_UNDERLAY15     HEX: 40000000
 
-: windowed-pfd-dwFlags ( -- n )
-    { PFD_DRAW_TO_WINDOW PFD_SUPPORT_OPENGL PFD_DOUBLEBUFFER } flags ;
-: offscreen-pfd-dwFlags ( -- n )
-    { PFD_DRAW_TO_BITMAP PFD_SUPPORT_OPENGL } flags ;
-
-! TODO: compare to http://www.nullterminator.net/opengl32.html
-: make-pfd ( flags bits -- pfd )
-    "PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR" <c-object>
-    "PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR" heap-size over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-nSize
-    1 over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-nVersion
-    rot over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-dwFlags
-    PFD_TYPE_RGBA over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-iPixelType
-    [ set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cColorBits ] keep
-    16 over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-cDepthBits
-    PFD_MAIN_PLANE over set-PIXELFORMATDESCRIPTOR-dwLayerMask ;
-
 
 LIBRARY: gl
 
@@ -100,5 +84,112 @@ LIBRARY: gl
 FUNCTION: HGLRC wglCreateContext ( HDC hDC ) ;
 FUNCTION: BOOL wglDeleteContext ( HGLRC hRC ) ;
 FUNCTION: BOOL wglMakeCurrent ( HDC hDC, HGLRC hglrc ) ;
-FUNCTION: HGLRC wglGetCurrentContext ( ) ;
-FUNCTION: void* wglGetProcAddress ( char* name ) ;
+
+! WGL_ARB_extensions_string extension
+
+GL-FUNCTION: char* wglGetExtensionsStringARB { } ( HDC hDC ) ;
+
+! WGL_ARB_pixel_format extension
+
+CONSTANT: WGL_NUMBER_PIXEL_FORMATS_ARB    HEX: 2000
+CONSTANT: WGL_DRAW_TO_WINDOW_ARB          HEX: 2001
+CONSTANT: WGL_DRAW_TO_BITMAP_ARB          HEX: 2002
+CONSTANT: WGL_ACCELERATION_ARB            HEX: 2003
+CONSTANT: WGL_NEED_PALETTE_ARB            HEX: 2004
+CONSTANT: WGL_NEED_SYSTEM_PALETTE_ARB     HEX: 2005
+CONSTANT: WGL_SWAP_LAYER_BUFFERS_ARB      HEX: 2006
+CONSTANT: WGL_SWAP_METHOD_ARB             HEX: 2007
+CONSTANT: WGL_NUMBER_OVERLAYS_ARB         HEX: 2008
+CONSTANT: WGL_NUMBER_UNDERLAYS_ARB        HEX: 2009
+CONSTANT: WGL_TRANSPARENT_ARB             HEX: 200A
+CONSTANT: WGL_TRANSPARENT_RED_VALUE_ARB   HEX: 2037
+CONSTANT: WGL_TRANSPARENT_GREEN_VALUE_ARB HEX: 2038
+CONSTANT: WGL_TRANSPARENT_BLUE_VALUE_ARB  HEX: 2039
+CONSTANT: WGL_TRANSPARENT_ALPHA_VALUE_ARB HEX: 203A
+CONSTANT: WGL_TRANSPARENT_INDEX_VALUE_ARB HEX: 203B
+CONSTANT: WGL_SHARE_DEPTH_ARB             HEX: 200C
+CONSTANT: WGL_SHARE_STENCIL_ARB           HEX: 200D
+CONSTANT: WGL_SHARE_ACCUM_ARB             HEX: 200E
+CONSTANT: WGL_SUPPORT_GDI_ARB             HEX: 200F
+CONSTANT: WGL_SUPPORT_OPENGL_ARB          HEX: 2010
+CONSTANT: WGL_DOUBLE_BUFFER_ARB           HEX: 2011
+CONSTANT: WGL_STEREO_ARB                  HEX: 2012
+CONSTANT: WGL_PIXEL_TYPE_ARB              HEX: 2013
+CONSTANT: WGL_COLOR_BITS_ARB              HEX: 2014
+CONSTANT: WGL_RED_BITS_ARB                HEX: 2015
+CONSTANT: WGL_RED_SHIFT_ARB               HEX: 2016
+CONSTANT: WGL_GREEN_BITS_ARB              HEX: 2017
+CONSTANT: WGL_GREEN_SHIFT_ARB             HEX: 2018
+CONSTANT: WGL_BLUE_BITS_ARB               HEX: 2019
+CONSTANT: WGL_BLUE_SHIFT_ARB              HEX: 201A
+CONSTANT: WGL_ALPHA_BITS_ARB              HEX: 201B
+CONSTANT: WGL_ALPHA_SHIFT_ARB             HEX: 201C
+CONSTANT: WGL_ACCUM_BITS_ARB              HEX: 201D
+CONSTANT: WGL_ACCUM_RED_BITS_ARB          HEX: 201E
+CONSTANT: WGL_ACCUM_GREEN_BITS_ARB        HEX: 201F
+CONSTANT: WGL_ACCUM_BLUE_BITS_ARB         HEX: 2020
+CONSTANT: WGL_ACCUM_ALPHA_BITS_ARB        HEX: 2021
+CONSTANT: WGL_DEPTH_BITS_ARB              HEX: 2022
+CONSTANT: WGL_STENCIL_BITS_ARB            HEX: 2023
+CONSTANT: WGL_AUX_BUFFERS_ARB             HEX: 2024
+
+CONSTANT: WGL_NO_ACCELERATION_ARB         HEX: 2025
+CONSTANT: WGL_GENERIC_ACCELERATION_ARB    HEX: 2026
+CONSTANT: WGL_FULL_ACCELERATION_ARB       HEX: 2027
+
+CONSTANT: WGL_SWAP_EXCHANGE_ARB           HEX: 2028
+CONSTANT: WGL_SWAP_COPY_ARB               HEX: 2029
+CONSTANT: WGL_SWAP_UNDEFINED_ARB          HEX: 202A
+
+CONSTANT: WGL_TYPE_RGBA_ARB               HEX: 202B
+CONSTANT: WGL_TYPE_COLORINDEX_ARB         HEX: 202C
+
+GL-FUNCTION: BOOL wglGetPixelFormatAttribivARB { } (
+        HDC hdc,
+        int iPixelFormat,
+        int iLayerPlane,
+        UINT nAttributes,
+        int* piAttributes,
+        int* piValues
+    ) ;
+
+GL-FUNCTION: BOOL wglGetPixelFormatAttribfvARB { } (
+        HDC hdc,
+        int iPixelFormat,
+        int iLayerPlane,
+        UINT nAttributes,
+        int* piAttributes,
+        FLOAT* pfValues
+    ) ;
+
+GL-FUNCTION: BOOL wglChoosePixelFormatARB { } (
+        HDC hdc,
+        int* piAttribIList,
+        FLOAT* pfAttribFList,
+        UINT nMaxFormats,
+        int* piFormats,
+        UINT* nNumFormats
+    ) ;
+
+! WGL_ARB_multisample extension
+
+CONSTANT: WGL_SAMPLE_BUFFERS_ARB HEX: 2041
+CONSTANT: WGL_SAMPLES_ARB        HEX: 2042
+
+! WGL_ARB_pixel_format_float extension
+
+CONSTANT: WGL_TYPE_RGBA_FLOAT_ARB HEX: 21A0
+
+! wgl extensions querying
+
+: has-wglGetExtensionsStringARB? ( -- ? )
+    "wglGetExtensionsStringARB" wglGetProcAddress >boolean ;
+
+: wgl-extensions ( hdc -- extensions )
+    has-wglGetExtensionsStringARB? [ wglGetExtensionsStringARB " " split ] [ drop { } ] if ;
+
+: has-wgl-extensions? ( hdc extensions -- ? )
+    swap wgl-extensions [ member? ] curry all? ;
+
+: has-wgl-pixel-format-extension? ( hdc -- ? )
+    { "WGL_ARB_pixel_format" } has-wgl-extensions? ;
diff --git a/basis/x11/glx/glx.factor b/basis/x11/glx/glx.factor
index dc6157b87f..67ac0e8cc1 100644
--- a/basis/x11/glx/glx.factor
+++ b/basis/x11/glx/glx.factor
@@ -84,20 +84,17 @@ X-FUNCTION: void* glXGetProcAddress ( char* procname ) ;
 ! GLX_ARB_get_proc_address extension
 X-FUNCTION: void* glXGetProcAddressARB ( char* procname ) ;
 
+! GLX_ARB_multisample
+CONSTANT: GLX_SAMPLE_BUFFERS 100000
+CONSTANT: GLX_SAMPLES 100001
+
+! GLX_ARB_fbconfig_float
+CONSTANT: GLX_RGBA_FLOAT_TYPE HEX: 20B9
+CONSTANT: GLX_RGBA_FLOAT_BIT  HEX: 0004
+
 ! GLX Events
 ! (also skipped for now. only has GLXPbufferClobberEvent, the rest is handled by xlib methinks)
 
-: choose-visual ( flags -- XVisualInfo* )
-    [ dpy get scr get ] dip
-    [
-        %
-        GLX_RGBA ,
-        GLX_DEPTH_SIZE , 16 ,
-        0 ,
-    ] int-array{ } make
-    glXChooseVisual
-    [ "Could not get a double-buffered GLX RGBA visual" throw ] unless* ;
-
 : create-glx ( XVisualInfo* -- GLXContext )
     [ dpy get ] dip f 1 glXCreateContext
     [ "Failed to create GLX context" throw ] unless* ;
diff --git a/basis/x11/windows/windows.factor b/basis/x11/windows/windows.factor
index 37da51e9b8..54cf205c14 100644
--- a/basis/x11/windows/windows.factor
+++ b/basis/x11/windows/windows.factor
@@ -53,11 +53,8 @@ IN: x11.windows
         dup
     ] dip auto-position ;
 
-: glx-window ( loc dim -- window glx )
-    GLX_DOUBLEBUFFER 1array choose-visual
-    [ create-window ] keep
-    [ create-glx ] keep
-    XFree ;
+: glx-window ( loc dim visual -- window glx )
+    [ create-window ] [ create-glx ] bi ;
 
 : create-pixmap ( dim visual -- pixmap )
     [ [ { 0 0 } swap ] dip create-window ] [
@@ -74,9 +71,8 @@ IN: x11.windows
 : create-glx-pixmap ( dim visual -- pixmap glx-pixmap )
     [ create-pixmap ] [ (create-glx-pixmap) ] bi ;
 
-: glx-pixmap ( dim -- glx pixmap glx-pixmap )
-    { } choose-visual
-    [ nip create-glx ] [ create-glx-pixmap ] [ nip XFree ] 2tri ;
+: glx-pixmap ( dim visual -- glx pixmap glx-pixmap )
+    [ nip create-glx ] [ create-glx-pixmap ] 2bi ;
 
 : destroy-window ( win -- )
     dpy get swap XDestroyWindow drop ;
diff --git a/extra/ui/offscreen/offscreen.factor b/extra/ui/offscreen/offscreen.factor
index 8d197eb844..c6669eb16f 100755
--- a/extra/ui/offscreen/offscreen.factor
+++ b/extra/ui/offscreen/offscreen.factor
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ IN: ui.offscreen
 
 TUPLE: offscreen-world < world ;
 
+M: offscreen-world world-pixel-format-attributes
+    { offscreen T{ depth-bits { value 16 } } } ;
+
 : <offscreen-world> ( gadget title status -- world )
     offscreen-world new-world ;