Re: new device driver features

On Fri, 2003-11-14 at 14:44, Brian Paul wrote:
> So, it sounds like people want a new device driver model upon which 
> the X server (or other things) can be layered.  Has anyone outlined 
> the feature set for such a driver?
> 
> I'll go out on a limb and list what first occurs to me:

I'm no video expert, but I think laptops have extra stuff that would be
most excellent to design in from the start.  For example, "hot-plugging"
of external monitors, picture-in-window, etc.  Not sure if what you
mentioned below covers that (I don't know what half the terms are ~,^ ),
but thought I'd mention it.

Also, the detection should be able to be "pluggable" as much as
possible.  I.e., the HAL project should be usable when possible, or
something else when not.  Also, assuming HAL can't solve certain pieces,
card/chip IDs and such should be outside the source code.  It's really
annoying when one has to recompile something in order to get enable
hardware that technically works just fine - a way to kep an external
file(s) that list device/driver mappings would rock.  Again, assuming
the server needs to implement that and it can't just use HAL.

> 
> 
> Initialization:
> 	- what does this really involve?
> 
> Query card capabilities:
> 	- amount of VRAM
> 	- number of screens
> 	- make/model info
> 	- more?
> 
> Display:
> 	- query supported display modes (for each screen)
> 	- set display mode (for each screen)
> 	- set start address/stride for scanning out the framebuffer
> 	- set hardware colormap
> 	- enable/disable each screen
> 	- stereo mode
> 	- setup hardware video overlays
> 	- more?
> 
> Monitor:
> 	- query monitor's parameters/limits (DDC / EDID?)
> 	- more?
> 
> Cursor:
> 	- show/hide
> 	- get/set position
> 	- get/set cursor image
> 	- more?
> 
> Memory:
> 	- allocate/free VRAM
> 	- AGP allocation?
> 	- map VRAM into process address space
> 
> Rendering:
> 	- negotiate DMA based rendering?
> 	- OpenGL renderer as an intrinsic piece, or separate?
> 	- simple, built-in rendering (like blits)?
> 	- more?
> 
> 
> SciTech's SNAP interface provides this sort of stuff, plus lots of 
> rendering and utility functions.  Is that sort of what people are 
> looking for?
> 
> -Brian
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
Sean Middleditch <[email protected]>
AwesomePlay Productions, Inc.