On Tue 11 Aug, Chris Reuter wrote:
> I thought I'd mention the Linux GGI project for those who aren't aware
> of it.  This is a scheme under development to move graphics drivers
> into the Linux[1] kernal.  This has several advantages, the relevant
> one here being that non-suid program can now access the video
> hardware, and without risk of crashing the computer.
> 
> This is ideal for Squeak because it doesn't really need a windowing
> system and X has a lot of overhead.  This might make running Squeak on
> 386 and 486 hardware feasible.
When I did the DEC Itsy port a few weeeks ago we had to work around this same
'problem'. Itsy has no X-Windows (thank goodness) and we just used the
framebuffer device in what I believe is 'the old fashioned way', i.e.
	/* open the framebuffer device */  
	if ((fb_d = open("/dev/fb", O_RDWR)) < 0) {
		perror("Error opening /dev/fb\n");
		return (unsigned char*)0;
	}
	/* setup the frame buffer */
 	if ((k=ioctl(fb_d, FB_LCD_PARAMS, &fbLcdParams)) != 0) {
		perror("Error with /dev/fb ioctl FB_LCD_PARAMS call");
		return (unsigned char*)0;
	}

I don't know if Linux generically provides a framebufer device, or if this is
an Itsy specific change, but I do remember using a very similar technique some
years ago on RiscIX.

Eliot's BrouHaHa VM also did something very similar for the various unices it
ran on.

tim

-- 
Useful random insult:- Hears more lyrics on records when they're played backwards.
Tim Rowledge:  rowledge at interval.com (w)  +1 (650) 842-6110 (w)
 tim at sumeru.stanford.edu (h)  <http://sumeru.stanford.edu/tim>