Re: changing color depth in XFree86

[Stewart <bdlists@snerk.org>]

terry white wrote:

>     it seems to me, this whole thing less about you 'getting' it, than it
> is bitching about 'everything' "everyone" else isn't doing with
> regard to X.  the inability to appreciate the implications of
> color depth, or 'rewriting' the code, speaks for itself.

I fully understand the implications. However, Linux, XFree86, et al. 
(the various poster boys for OSS and the software revolution in general) 
are supposed to be advanced, innovative coding models that are ahead of, 
rather than waiting several years, through periods of bitching, moaning, 
and innumerable code forks before somebody gets around to implementing a 
feature that users have come to expect from their systems for well over 
a decade. This core functionality can often take as long as a year to 
mature, at which point it is lauded as some sort of accomplishment.

XFree86 is in the process of being forked;

http://www.pclinuxonline.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=4717&mode=nested&order=0&thold=0

Why is it being forked? I'll let Mr. Packard explain it for me;

http://lwn.net/Articles/27673/

Note the paragraph, right at the outset, that reads "Designed in 1987, 
X11 hasn't seen any significant architectural work in well over a 
decade, and it really shows."

Since 1987, computer power has increased exponentially over and over 
again, and all that's changed in XFree86 is to become more bloated and 
require, yet not take advantage of newer hardware implementations.

This;

http://www.advogato.org/person/mharris/diary.html?start=5

is a good indication of the current state of affairs in desktop usage. 
When making a purchasing decision for a video card, a typical user would 
compare the features, memory, texture mapping capabilities, multi 
monitor support, etc.

When a Linux user makes a purchasing decision, they have to perform 
extensive research (mostly empirical) to figure out whether or not their 
system will remain *STABLE* for more than five minutes at a time if they 
enable so much as a portion of the card's capabilities. Even with 
vendor-supported drivers direct from the manufacturer, modern ATI cards 
are not to be considered "Penguin Friendly".

What about the other big alternative - nVidia? What happens when you 
speak to a developer about hard locks of your system? "Are you using an 
nVidia? Is the driver loaded?"

What does that say about the current state of affairs of the desktop in 
OSS systems? It says that we'll not only settle, but fight for mediocrity.

The arguments put forth by Glynn and yourself are only serving to 
further this notion.

> now, you add someone with little
> obvious command of the material at hand, the desire to defend that
> position, add a pinch of indignation, and you've got entertainment at its
> finest.  all i can say, is 'thanks' ...

That's funny, because all I can see are two people who have no apparent 
knowledge of the current needs/demands of computer users, or the 
advances in desktop environments that are sorely lacking from XFree86 
trying to tell me why it's infeasable to implement something that's 
second nature to every other major desktop platform in existance.

You stick to your legacy X11 system, I'll continue to champion for 
positive change. We'll see where XFree86 winds up in 3-5 years.

Meanwhile, if you're going to continue to stroke your respective egos 
and contribute nothing substantive, do us all a favour and save yourself 
from my twit filter.