Messages in this thread | | | Date | Wed, 9 Jun 1999 08:20:26 +1000 | From | Richard Gooch <> | Subject | Re: Migrating to larger numbers |
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Nathan Hand writes: > On Tue, Jun 08, 1999 at 12:16:40PM +0200, Pavel Machek wrote: > > Actually, gpm is probably going to be trashed and replaced with kernel > > approach (because in-kernel input drivers mean better sharing > > etc.). XF86_SVGA already has its fbcon counterparts (like > > creatorfb). > > This is a side issue I'd like to discuss. > > Kernel side abstraction of mouse drivers is painful. It encourages > user space applications that take over the entire device, and this > prevents applications from sharing a device. > > The perfect example is /dev/dsp. Because the interface was "fairly > good" applications chose to open(2) it. So your desktop could make > noises, but you had to kill your desktop to play an mp3. > > This has led to the current mess with your choice of ESD, OSS, and > ALSALIB as the sound API. If applications had used the theoretical > libsound.so from the start, there wouldn't be this problem.
I'm not advocating a kernel-based gpm, but it seems to me that the problem you mention with sound is due to the device semantics. The kernel doesn't impose single-open rules. That's a fault of the driver.
You could just as easily make the same mistake in libsound.so.
Regards,
Richard....
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