vtc(4) and graphics drivers.

Posts to mailing lists relating to the graphical console have increased with the growing popularity of the amd64 port. I’m not at all surprised about this. In fact, I’ve seen it coming. That’s why I started vtc(4) development many moons ago. With KGI declared dead, vtc(4) may have grown another leg to stand on: a breeding ground for future KGI development. A new leg does not mean that vtc(4) has a more viable future. The fact that vendors of graphics cards keep their hardware under NDA is a real hurdle for vtc(4) and having proper drivers for graphics hardware is central to the design and implementation. If not for getting the higher resolution, real drivers are needed to get any kind of acceptable performance out of the hardware. Good performance is another hurdle that needs to be overcome. I just ran a kernel with vtc(4) under Parallels (a virtualization package that runs on Mac OS X for Intel processors) and scrolling was painful to watch. Interestingly, Parallels simulates Intel graphics hardware and Intel has documented what which is important to vtc(4). It would be interesting to write a driver for GMCH hardware with accelerated bitblt operations and see if there’s a performance increase. That’s an interesting experiment…

88 Responses to “vtc(4) and graphics drivers.”

  1. Eric Anholt Says:

    Modesetting code (and trivial 2d acceleration) exists in X.Org for every card I know of except for the ATI Radeon x1000 series. We’ve got enough information for the basics on the x1000 series from airlied’s work, but the code hasn’t been written. So NDAed specs (not that NDAed specs for the big 3 even really get given out to open source folks these days) aren’t an issue because you’ve already got implementations.

    The real problem here is that if you want to put this stuff into the kernel, it means writing reams and reams of miserable modesetting code for every chipset out there. I think the intel modesetting code is going to be on the order of about 10,000 lines when I’m done with it. Now, do that about 20 times for all the different chipsets out there. And have FreeBSD, or even *BSD, alone maintain it? Riiiiight. Learn from the linux fbdev experience. X doesn’t even have this code all working right, and it’s probably got orders of magnitude more users.

    This is why I’ve been advocating that, if anyone’s going to try to get better modes in console, modesetting should get split out from X into userland libraries. Then, we can have a daemon called out to by the kernel for the kernel’s modesetting responsibilities, and X could use the same stuff for its support. I think at this point we’ve got a pretty reasonable idea of what the API the library would need to support would look like, too.

    The 2d acceleration necessary for console is really trivial.

  2. Marcel Moolenaar Says:

    The argument that mode-setting should be done in userland because the code is already out there to do it, is strong. Unfortunately, it’s also an argument that proposes a solution for only parts of the problem-space. Mode-setting needs to be done before user-space is functional, even if it doesn’t have to be done on PCs. On top of that, the kernel needs to know about the mode and its operation because it’s fundamental in the event of crashes as well as working in the kernel debugger.

    So far, the old argument that it should be done in user-space, continues to ignore the complete scope of the problem or handwaves those aspects of the problem it doesn’t address as non-important. That’s a shame, because when all involved parties are ready to solve the same problem space, real cooperation begins and true solutions will see the light of day.

  3. Pedro Says:

    Well… nVidia keeps insisting on using the kernel for their stuff so I’m afraid we will have to resurrect KGI sooner or later ;-). Unfortunately, and it’s something we discussed with Nicholas, KGI doesn’t really attack the root of the problem, we need to have the enhancements they requested for the updated amd64 port (see the “Website” link).

  4. Vere-ow Says:

    122 capital street suite 200

  5. Vere-wd Says:

    golden valley cabin rentals

  6. Vere-vi Says:

    india justin hawaii nepal

  7. klira Says:

    female femfight2000

  8. Vere-ur Says:

    martinsburg wv landscaping

  9. klira Says:

    vacum cleaner parts

  10. Vere-ib Says:

    desert ridge shopping center

  11. Vere-gd Says:

    natural gas oven

  12. Vere-fl Says:

    picture of shemale in high heels

  13. klira Says:

    female sexual dysfunktional

  14. klira Says:

    campgroundi

  15. klira Says:

    tugjobgirls

  16. klira Says:

    ontario california erotic massage

  17. Vilyamtz Says:

    washington dc capital

  18. klira Says:

    taunton masssachusettes personals

  19. Vilyamyv Says:

    meridian cabana

  20. klira Says:

    art galleries in los angeles county

  21. Vilyamnq Says:

    dob

  22. klira Says:

    boys jerking off high school boys porn

  23. klira Says:

    statistics linking teen crime to single parent households

  24. Vilyammj Says:

    aol greating cards

  25. klira Says:

    franklin county va real estate tax assese

  26. klira Says:

    butte montana antique police badge

  27. Vilyamht Says:

    winsock

  28. klira Says:

    length of typical adult romantic relationship

  29. Vilyamgk Says:

    data com

  30. klira Says:

    passiflora alamo

  31. Vilyamsx Says:

    novelty doorbell ringers

  32. klira Says:

    suicide cocktail

  33. Vilyamnz Says:

    effects of katrina on mississippi

  34. klira Says:

    popper gay sex

  35. Vilyammc Says:

    chambersburg hospital

  36. klira Says:

    texas sexual predator list

  37. klira Says:

    karate kid movie

  38. Vilyamom Says:

    classy updos

  39. klira Says:

    sexual harrassment video

  40. klira Says:

    86 s10 fiberglass bumper

  41. klira Says:

    soaking wet xxx latino girls

  42. Vilyambd Says:

    network magic download

  43. klira Says:

    hendersoncounty texastaxassessorsoffice

  44. feechka-vu Says:

    cat pics

  45. olesja Says:

    amatuer nude wrestlers

  46. Vilyamof Says:

    us army corp of engineers

  47. olesja Says:

    re tribuet of chinese girls

  48. olesja Says:

    classroom notes holt environmental science

  49. feechka-zs Says:

    exploitation films

  50. olesja Says:

    calcium carbonicum

  51. olesja Says:

    bigger thicker penis

  52. lol Says:

    latina asian pussy naked free gallery pictures

  53. Boys Jerkingoff Says:

    porn video – http://www.pornobox.ru

  54. lol Says:

    world class call center definition

  55. lol Says:

    first time anal sex vids

  56. lol Says:

    american red cross volunteer dental assistant program

  57. lol Says:

    pos yourgirls

  58. lol Says:

    pre teen pageant gown

  59. innqardf Says:

    innqardf

    innqardf

  60. lol Says:

    easy to make peanut butter cookies

  61. lol Says:

    pittsburgh musicians classified

  62. Doodee Says:

    Thanks for sharing

  63. lol Says:

    the cumberland times

  64. lol Says:

    ebony animal xxx porn

  65. lol Says:

    winter olympics of 1972

  66. lol Says:

    louise glover pics

  67. lol Says:

    sopranos pics

  68. feechka-ii Says:

    suzzane russo brass

  69. lol Says:

    telecommunications analysis swot at&t

  70. lol Says:

    baby girls name

  71. Anal Sex XXX Says:

    Anal Sex XXX

    Anal Sex XXX

  72. lol Says:

    glass making training

  73. lol Says:

    cindy margolis breast

  74. lol Says:

    taxation assesments

  75. acne treatment reviews Says:

    acne treatment reviews

    acne treatment reviews

  76. Clementssportsshow146$anchor$basketball Betting,final Four,final Four Betting,final Four Gambling,final Four Sports Book,final Four Sportsbook,march Madness,march Madness Betting,march Madness Gambling,march Madness Sports Book,march Madness Sportsbook,nc Says:

    Clementssportsshow146$anchor$basketball Betting,final Four,final Four Betting,final Four Gambling,final Four Sports Book,final Four Sportsbook,march Madness,march Madness Betting,march Madness Gambling,march Madness Sports Book,march Madness Sportsbo…

    Clementssportsshow146$anchor$basketball Betting,final Four,final Four Betting,final Four Gambling,final Four Sports Book,final Four Sportsbook,march Madness,march Madness Betting,march Madness Gambling,march Madness Sports Book,march Madness Sportsbook…

  77. Flammopay Says:

    I’d prefer reading in my native language, because my knowledge of your languange is no so well. But it was interesting! Look for some my links:

  78. Miamispringssportsrealm8563$anchor$basketball Betting,final Four,final Four Betting,final Four Gambling,final Four Sports Book,final Four Sportsbook,march Madness,march Madness Betting,march Madness Gambling,march Madness Sports Book,march Madness Sportsb Says:

    Miamispringssportsrealm8563$anchor$basketball Betting,final Four,final Four Betting,final Four Gambling,final Four Sports Book,final Four Sportsbook,march Madness,march Madness Betting,march Madness Gambling,march Madness Sports Book,march Madness Sp…

    Miamispringssportsrealm8563$anchor$basketball Betting,final Four,final Four Betting,final Four Gambling,final Four Sports Book,final Four Sportsbook,march Madness,march Madness Betting,march Madness Gambling,march Madness Sports Book,march Madness Spor…

  79. zxevil162 Says:

    TUYyuo cool blog, man!

  80. zxevil162 Says:

    LbL3P0 cool blog, man!

  81. lol Says:

  82. Sergiossportsworld2303$anchor$basketball Betting,final Four,final Four Betting,final Four Gambling,final Four Sports Book,final Four Sportsbook,march Madness,march Madness Betting,march Madness Gambling,march Madness Sports Book,march Madness Sportsbook,n Says:

    Sergiossportsworld2303$anchor$basketball Betting,final Four,final Four Betting,final Four Gambling,final Four Sports Book,final Four Sportsbook,march Madness,march Madness Betting,march Madness Gambling,march Madness Sports Book,march Madness Sportsb…

    Sergiossportsworld2303$anchor$basketball Betting,final Four,final Four Betting,final Four Gambling,final Four Sports Book,final Four Sportsbook,march Madness,march Madness Betting,march Madness Gambling,march Madness Sports Book,march Madness Sportsboo…

  83. Flammopay Says:

    I’d prefer reading in my native language, because my knowledge of your languange is no so well.

  84. Linda Says:

    average money price of corn regulates, more or less, that of all scrapbook layouts with family pets not inferior to what the buss-fishery employs at present, is now jevbuaumpp

  85. Anna Says:

    mercantile republic. The national coin receives its movement and animated red flame myspace layouts value of many different sorts of manufactured goods. They did pkkqjxvgcf

  86. Christy Says:

    Oh… Your blog used to be nice, but now it’s spoiled. Stop posting trash like that or stop posting at all.

  87. Justin Says:

    Sounds great! Your blog is one of my most favorite now ;). You have hit the nail on the head, just like you always do.

  88. asian pussy vids Says:

    [...] vtc4 and having proper drivers for graphics hardware is central to the design and implementation.http://blogs.freebsdish.org/marcel/2006/07/13/vtc4-and-graphics-drivers/Passionate woman chick enjoy hardcore anal sex Just take a look at exotic babe Orsay! She is sexy [...]

Leave a Reply