Re: Kernel Summit presentation

["Alexander E. Patrakov" <patrakov@ums.usu.ru>]

Jon Smirl wrote:

> I attached the slides from my kernel summit presentation. The major
> change is that Linus does not want a new VT state. Instead we should
> open a new VT, switch it to VT_GRAPHICS, and then refuse to
> acknowledge VT swap requests. Dave Airlie did another presentation on
> mode setting and suspend/resume.
> 
> The simple overview: goal is to get rid of the current VT swap system
> but replace it with something that looks just like it. To do this the
> console is split into two halves.
> 
> 1) kernel console - it is as simple as possible and always guaranteed
> to work. It is simpler than current fbconsole. It automatically uses
> whatever mode is set on the monitor. There is only one kernel console
> - no VTs.
> 
> 2) user console - implements your normal VTs. Fully accelerated,
> supports Unicode, etc.
> 
> No one was really against restructuring the consoles. There was
> support for a console that always works even when something like X is
> running.

I am really interested in this, and want to help (with code, once 
architectural issues are solved). But there is a question:

How should applications that currently rely upon a kernel VT system being 
present (e.g. Xorg, MPlayer, SDL) be modified? (I mean, is there any proposed 
API for hunting for a free userspace VC?)

-- 
Alexander E. Patrakov


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