Re: [RFC] Small PCI core patch

Jeff Garzik
2005-11-22T14:36:13Z

On Tue, Nov 22, 2005 at 06:50:52AM +0100, Arjan van de Ven wrote:
> [1] Both nvidia and ati have a way out: they can do the IP side
> (translating 3D stuff into card specific commands) in userspace and just
> pass the data to the hardware via a thin driver that just drives and
> controls the hardware. Sure it may be 5% slower, but it's a lot cleaner
> IP wise. X after all is MIT (bsd like without nasty clauses) licensed
> and allows binary components.

100% agreed... IMO this is the best way to get open source 3D stuff.

One sticking point is validation: ensuring userspace cannot cause
invalid GPU microcode to be generated. [I can just hear Al Viro
swearing, just thinking about creating secure compilers...]

Jeff