--- Michel D�nzer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I don't see much overlap except maybe some register
> definitions, and
> there are valid reasons why someone would want a
> framebuffer device but
> not a DRM and vice versa. Cooperation would be great
> where it makes
> sense (e.g. for vsync), but I'm still not convinced
> that a merger would
> be a good idea. That being said, it's always better
> to discuss actual
> proposals instead of speculations. :)
> 
The main problem is having drm and fb stomp each
other's registers since locking and interrupts are not
coordinated.  It has never made sense to me to have
two device drivers controlling the same piece of
hardware simultaneously. Most Xfree users don't see
this problem because they don't load the radeonfb
driver. XFree implements the mode switching, etc at
user level.

The radeonfb drivers is only about 20K versus 110K for
the drm one. Another approach would be to leave
radeonfb alone and add mode switching to the drm
driver. 

A third scheme would be for the DRM driver to
implement fb support, and then have a load time flag
for jettisoning 3D support to recover the 90K.
Although I don't see why a RAM limited embedded system
would spend the money for a 3D capable Radeon and then
not use it.

DirectFB and the work I'm doing are creating another
type of environment, a standalone DRI where the
userlevel mode switching code doesn't exist. This
environment requires that radeonfb and drm be loaded
and thus exposes the coordination problems.

Wasn't GGI created just to solve this problem?

=====
Jon Smirl
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

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