Re: [Q]: Linux and real device drivers

Jeff Garzik (jgarzik@pobox.com)
Thu, 30 Sep 1999 12:33:49 -0400

Jesse Pollard wrote:
>
> From: Nathan Hand <nathanh@chirp.com.au>
> > - XFree86 (uses mmap and user space dma)
>
> XFree86 will move to /dev/fb as soon as it is practical. This is to
> increase the security (and stability to the kernel) as well as greater
> portability. This is also one of the goals of the GGI project.

Although XFree86 4.0 will support /dev/fb for some of the drivers, I
have seen no mention on the devel lists about moving to fbdev. (as much
as I would like it to be true :))

Add to that the fact that DRI, potentially the standard 3D driver
interface, is very much XFree86-specific [in implemention, not concept]
and is incompatible with fbdev drivers. Also, James Simmons' work on
fbdev (to make it more like SGI gfx devices) looks very promising, and
technically superior to DRI [when completed].

Regards,

Jeff

-- 
Custom driver development	|    Never worry about theory as long
Open source programming		|    as the machinery does what it's
				|    supposed to do.  -- R. A. Heinlein


-
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu
Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/