AMD might indeed be considering open-sourcing ATI drivers

[Yousuf Khan]

Just as we've been discussing in other threads about whether AMD would
open-source the ATI drivers, it looks like it will. It looks like
they're talking about a "functional subset" of the ATI drivers, which
probably means all of the game cheats are being exorcised before release
into the OS community.

Yousuf Khan

"Lastly, and remember you heard it here, AMD is strongly considering
open-sourcing at least a functional subset of ATI’s graphics drivers.
It’s time for X Window System, OpenGL, and client virtualization for
which ATI binary drivers aren’t available to escape the ghetto of the
1980s-era framebuffer. And what a boon for PR. If AMD’s graphics cards
were the only ones with open device drivers, it might affect a buying
decision or two."
http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/08/02/32OPcurve_1.html

 

[Garrot]

It looks like
they're talking about a "functional subset" of the ATI drivers, which
probably means all of the game cheats are being exorcised before release
into the OS community.

Game cheats? They are called "optimizations".

 

[Jan Panteltje]

Just as we've been discussing in other threads about whether AMD would
open-source the ATI drivers, it looks like it will. It looks like
they're talking about a "functional subset" of the ATI drivers, which
probably means all of the game cheats are being exorcised before release
into the OS community.

Personally I'd rather have fully closed source drivers then a functioning
subset open source drivers on Linux.


Well, it depends on 'subset', but for example if a card has video in
you would usually like to use that too, etc.

We will judge again when the drivers are there....

Think for example also H264, if any H264 acceleration.... open sourcing
_that_ part would be useful (so you could adapt other programs to use it).

Wait and see.....

Then there will be DRM.... good reason to integrate everything in one chip
including processor, memory and IO if possible.. LOL Finally grounded that
open source....
And death penalty for hacking.


I hang on to the old boxes....