Re: [Linux-fbdev-devel] Re: ANNOUNCE New Open Source X server

Sven LUTHER (luther@dpt-info.u-strasbg.fr)
Thu, 19 Apr 2001 10:05:15 +0200


On Wed, Apr 18, 2001 at 04:57:58PM -0700, Miles Lane wrote:
> "David S. Miller" wrote:
> >
> > James Simmons writes:
> > > The Linux GFX project grew out the need for a higher performance X
> > > server that has a much faster developement cycle. In the last few years
> > > the graphics card and multimedia environments have grow at such a rate
> > > the current X solutions can no longer keep pace nor do they focus on
> > > producing high performance X servers specifically for linux. Also the
> > > community has demanded for specific functionality which has never come to
> > > light.
> >
> > And this specific functionality is?
> >
> > I think this is not a worthwhile project at all. The X tree, it's
> > assosciated protocols and APIs, are complicated enough as it is, and
> > the xfree86 project has some of the most talented and capable people
> > in this area. It would be a step backwards to do things outside of
> > xfree86 development.
> >
> > If the issue is that "things don't happen fast enough in the xfree86
> > tree", why not lend them a hand and submitting patches to them instead
> > of complaining?
>
> Yes, David, I concur.
>
> James, please just pitch in and help XFree86 evolve faster.
> There are drivers that need to be "Render" extension enabled.

Sure, but if there was a Render documentation or something such, things would
be much easier.

> There's more work to do on fleshing out the Render extension.
> I am sure that Kieth Packard would be grateful for any
> worthwhile contributions.
>
> If you are thinking that you'll provide better accellerated
> graphics rendering performance, I'd love to know how you plan
> to accomplish this. AFAIK, the main impediment to XFree86
> giving really good accelleration support for a broad array
> of hardware is the lack of technical documentation from the
> manufacturers. Unless you plan on trying to get hardware

Well, in doing fbdev drivers you already solve this kind of problems.

> manufactures to have you develop their closed-source drivers
> for them, I don't see how you'll be able to do any better

closed source driver are evil anyway, so don't worry about those.

> than the XFree86 organization is already doing.
>
> XFree86 evolves in a measured way as a result of many
> competing needs. Backward compatibility is needed for the
> huge installed base of legacy apps. For the various
> development toolkits (KDE, Gnome, etc.) there is a rapid
> move toward using the Render and "Resize and Rotate"
> extensions. These extensions will make all sorts of cool
> rendering functionality available to the applications that
> use these toolkits (alpha blending, anti-aliased fonts and
> so on).
>
> I'd love to hear you enumerate all the shortcomings that you
> believe need to be addressed. Also, please CC: devel@xfree86.org.
> At least give the competition an opportunity to win over the
> support of the developers you'd like to pull away from
> XFree86 work!

I think the main critic (guessing from his announcement) is the interaction
between the console system and xfree86, as well as the
multi-head/keyboard/whatever handling, but let's hear what james has to say
about it.

Friendly,

Sven Luther
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