Let's just build it and see how it works!

Prototyping this can be done on several parallel paths....

1) Trying out xserver on the OpenGL API. The quickest path to this is to use the
proprietary ATI (or maybe NVidia)implementation under XFree86. The ATI
implementation has working pbuffers. pbuffers support is needed to get
accelerated drawing to offscreen windows. This can be done on any recent
ATI/Nvidia hardware.

2) Bringing up a standalone OpenSource platform. The quickest path here is the
fbdev miniglx implementation of software Mesa. What it is missing is general
pbuffer support in Mesa.

3) Bringing up a standalone accelerated OpenSource platform. The quickest path
here is the existing Radeon miniglx driver. This driver needs the fbdev driver
to get it's modes, but that works. What it is missing is pbuffer support in the
radeon DRM module. 

4) Bring up a full Radeon driver. This is what I'm working on. My driver can
load without a config file (done with changes to the DRM module) and it has full
mode setting support. It doesn't need fbdev. I just have to finish de-Xifying
100KB of code.

I don't know everyone's schedules or if you're even interested, but this could
be done in a week or so (plus Thanksgiving time) by utilizing people already
familiar with the code. keithp/brian might be best for #1. brian for #2, keithw
for #3. And I'll do #4. EricA can help keithw and I out with the DRM changes.
Other people might chip in with hardware support for other cards.

=====
Jon Smirl
jonsmirl-/[email protected]

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now
http://companion.yahoo.com/