Re: [RFC] Small PCI core patch

[Avi Kivity <avi@argo.co.il>]

Jeff Garzik wrote:

>  
>
>>However the situation with video drivers is already bad, and 
>>deteriorating. I had to hunt on the Internet to get my recent (FC4) 
>>distro to support my low-end embedded video (via). In the future it 
>>looks like even that won't work.
>>    
>>
>
>VIA is working with open source community.  They are small enough
>(comparatively) that they need every advantage.  VIA is one of the
>positive examples.
>
>  
>
I'm aware of that. But look at the trouble we have even with the 
cooperative vendors. I'm sure they had a Windows driver from day zero.

>  
>
>>>Dumb with a capital 'D'.
>>>
>>>
>>>      
>>>
>>I hope you have a better solution.
>>    
>>
>
>Almost all of the solutions listed in this thread are better:
>Chinese wall rev-eng,
>
As others pointed out, rev-eng of programmable 3D hardware will be 
difficult. There will be a perpetual (and long) lag between the 
introduction of hardware and Linux support. The effort has to repeat for 
new revisions of the hardware. And a rev-eng driver can still not be 
trusted: who knows whether the register you just wrote into doesn't have 
some subtle side-effect.

> funding, ...
>  
>
I want some too.


I don't think Windows drivers are the best, or even a good solution. But 
that may be the only realistic one. And I believe quite doable.