From: Jens O. <je...@tu...> - 2002-03-28 21:28:38
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David, Alan, Jeff and Kevin, I understand you would prefer a class of modules that are both HW specific and OS specific. Currently, the number of OS's supporting the DRM is 2; and the number of OS's the IHV's care about is 1 (linux x86 to be specific). So, there is no short term problem with persuing your model of having an extra module for each HW and OS combination. It is the long term I'm concerned about. If XFree86 aspires to have good 3D support for more than just one or two OS's, then an extra module for each HW and OS combination becomes a problem. David Dawes wrote: > The XFree86 video driver module > contains HW dependencies, but should have no OS dependencies. This fundamental design decision is an important one. Today, 2D support on a given processor platform can achieve support for hundreds of combinations of HW and OS's with a relatively small set of HW specific DDX modules and OS specific X servers. For example, the x86 processor has at least 20 unique DDX driver modules and 15 unique OS specific X servers which enable it to support over 300 combinations of HW and OS. If you allowed OS dependencies in the DDX driver module, you would need to support 300 unique DDX driver modules instead of just 20. The concept of keeping OS specifics and HW specifics seperate is a very powerful one indeed. I encourage you to factor that into the long term health of 3D support within XFree86. The drmCommand approach allows OS specifics and HW specifics to be seperated and follows the excellent principle set by the 2D DDX driver. I have completely removed the Linux specifics from the drmCommand interface. Attached is my latest patch against the tcl-0-0-branch. Please let me know if you see any OS portability limitations in this current interface. If you see any portability limitations that can't be fixed, I'll fall back and implement the 300+ combined HW and OS specific sub module approach. Regards, Jens -- /\ Jens Owen / \/\ _ je...@tu... / \ \ \ Steamboat Springs, Colorado |