diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/GLHelpers.cpp b/libraries/shared/src/GLHelpers.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f2371e49bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/GLHelpers.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#include "GLHelpers.h"
+
+
+QSurfaceFormat getDefaultOpenGlSurfaceFormat() {
+   QSurfaceFormat format;
+   // Qt Quick may need a depth and stencil buffer. Always make sure these are available.
+   format.setDepthBufferSize(DEFAULT_GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BITS);
+   format.setStencilBufferSize(DEFAULT_GL_STENCIL_BUFFER_BITS);
+   format.setVersion(4, 1);
+#ifdef DEBUG
+   format.setOption(QSurfaceFormat::DebugContext);
+#endif
+   // FIXME move to core as soon as possible
+   format.setProfile(QSurfaceFormat::OpenGLContextProfile::CompatibilityProfile);
+   return format;
+}
diff --git a/libraries/shared/src/GLHelpers.h b/libraries/shared/src/GLHelpers.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dc9f0f3140
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/shared/src/GLHelpers.h
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+//
+//  Created by Bradley Austin Davis 2015/05/29
+//  Copyright 2014 High Fidelity, Inc.
+//
+//  Distributed under the Apache License, Version 2.0.
+//  See the accompanying file LICENSE or http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html
+//
+
+#pragma once
+#ifndef hifi_GLHelpers_h
+#define hifi_GLHelpers_h
+
+#include <QSurfaceFormat>
+
+// 16 bits of depth precision
+#define DEFAULT_GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BITS 16
+// 8 bits of stencil buffer (typically you really only need 1 bit for functionality
+// but GL implementations usually just come with buffer sizes in multiples of 8)
+#define DEFAULT_GL_STENCIL_BUFFER_BITS 8
+
+QSurfaceFormat getDefaultOpenGlSurfaceFormat();
+
+#endif