In these days, the version 1.4 of the [Java 3D API](https://java3d.dev.java.net/) has been released.

The Maintenance Release under the Java Community Process (JCP) is defined by [JSR-926](http://jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=926) and
includes the following new features:

- Programmable shader support

- Default values for read capability bits

- Additional core picking methods

- Stencil buffer
\

• Rendering attributes/modes for depth test function

Other minor features have been added and others have been deprecated in the Java 3D API.

You can find all new and deprecated features in the [Java 3D API version 1.4 Change Log](http://jcp.org/aboutJava/communityprocess/maintenance/jsr926/926ChangeLog.html).

One of the most interesting features available with the next release of the Java 3D API is the
JOGL integration (Java Bindings for OpenGL, [JSR-231](http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=231)) for the access to native context.

You can follow Java 3D API evolution in the [Java 3D Roadmap](http://wiki.java.net/bin/view/Javadesktop/Java3DRoadmap\#Java\_3D\_1\_4) wiki page.