<snip>
Currently I'm installing the linux-joystick support.
jstest --normal /dev/input/js0 gives may values between 0 and 4094,
correctly mapped to the axis-movement. Is there a way to force fgfs to
use a specific stick? Perhaps /dev/input/js0 instead of uhid0 I ran
jscal too, so now my stick should be calibrated. Doesn't work in fgfs
better now, but its calibrated.
<snip> 

Slightly off on a tangent, but I thought I would share my thoughts on
joystick calibration in general.

On my Windows PC, with a Saitek joystick (model temporarily forgotten)
calibration works like this (on all games, so I guess it must be part of
the driver):

The maximum and minimum value that have been observed on each axis since
last reset appear to be treated as the maximum and minimum value
possible on that axis, and the current reading for an axis is given as
the position between these points. 

For example, on the X axis, if I have only moved the stick from the
centre position to halfway negative, the maximum and minimum values seen
to date would be 1000 and 2000 (out of 0-4000 true range). If I now hold
the stick at position 1750, then the output is 0.5 (of a range of -1 to
1) since it is halfway between the mean and maximum positions.
If I then move the X axis to the positive limit (4000), then back to
1750, then the output is now -0.5 (-1 to 1).
If I then move the X axis all the way to the negative limit, and back to
1750 the output will be -0.125 (-1 to 1).

Thus to calibrate the joystick, at startup I just have to move each axis
to both extremes (wave the stick in a circle, twist the grip left and
right, and move the throttle lever to max and then min), which is very
simple, and analogous to doing a control surfaces check IRL. 

This could easily be implemented in FG for all axes on all joysticks.
Since there are bound to be some situations where this behaviour is
unwanted, this should be optional, but I feel that it could probably be
the default without causing any problems. Even if I end up in the air in
FG out of control with the joystick uncalibrated, it takes less than a
second to calibrate the joystick (by frantically waving the stick
around) and all is sorted.

I would implement this to test it, but my coding skills are not
sufficient (and it already works like this on my PC), so I offer my
thoughts to the group.

My tuppence-worth.

Richard

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