Hi,
I have a custom OS that does a lot of things with SoCs but now, I wish to add a display to it with a custom made GUI.
Currently, I am very interested to use OpenGL ES and video acceleration.
Do your binary driver has lot of links with the Linux/Android OS or are there OS abstractions layers, like in your kernel side driver?
I won't use x11.
In general, is it possible for a hobbyist/professional bringing a custom OS as a solution for a specific problem to use your GPU and its hardware acceleration?
Thanks,
Bests,
I think I have an idea for you guys:
Why not creating a "naked" driver version (complementing your current line of drivers)?
-> You keep the binaries proprietary as you wish, but provide an abstraction layer to the core graphic functions of a OS (to enable a choice between different window managers).
Do not enforce the use of x11 or fbdev, but let the devs call your proprietary functions and treat the results however they want. A simple .txt file on the order of functions to call would be useful but that is it.
If I am not mistaken, you did it for the core functions in the kernel, and that is GREAT.
But now, we have to make sure to be able to port your code to different OS you don't know about. With this naked driver, that means less work for you since we take it in charge.
And the naked driver would share a large part of the code you already have and keep developing.
The open source kernel driver is explicitly coded as a Linux kernel driver; there are some abstractions, but not many as in general high performance drivers have to make a lot of assumptions about how the host virtual memory architecture and cross-process memory sharing works to get the best performance out of it. The few user-space libraries we ship for reference platforms are binaries and are only available for Linux (normally) and some Android platforms.
However, note that the kernel driver is only a tiny part of the overall driver stack - the user-space parts are not available as open-source, and only available under license.
It's definitely been done in an industrial setting - we have partners shipping on non-Linux operating systems including RTOS environments - so technically possible. In terms of logistics it's not something possible without a commercial driver license to make the necessary modifications to the user-space drivers however, so not possible for a hobbyist.
Kind regards, Pete
Ok so now I need some more info.
If I am on the short list for a contract with a given company and need to have a commercial licence to make the modifications, how should I do? Who should I contact? What is the price (that factor is important too)?
If you cannot answer on the public thread, please mp me.
Hi Mark,
If you drop a mail to support@arm.com they can put you in touch with our commercial team.
Did that
Pete, do you know if the Mali can be sent some buffer to render, providing software rendering?
That would enable me to start working on the GUI meanwhile.
Thanks a lot BTW