FreeLists / openbeos / [openbeos] Thoughts on XFree86 development and how it effects OBOS

["Solaja, Zenja" <solaja@xxxxxxxxxx>]

When OBOS was but an idea on the bedevtalk mailing list, a lot of talk
evolved around which subsystems to reuse in order to recreate the corpse
still lying on the morticians table. Thats when NewOS was considered, as
well as XFree86 as a display system.  OBOS went down an interesting part
(deciding not to use XFree86), and a few people went their own way,
grumbling about the unwise choice of not selecting XFree86 and a large pool
of 2D/3D drivers we'd get for free.  With the latest news on the XFree86 4.4
front (all computer news websites, about the split and creation of several
factions or XFree86, which are too many to list here, just Google it), this
actually brings OBOS into an interesting position.  With the disappation and
fragmentation of the XFree86 world, it seems that it is less likely that all
flavours/descendants will gain accelerated drivers.  This might finally be
an straw which breaks the camels back (metaphorically), and force video card
manufacturers to publish open specs for their hardware.  Fingers crossed...

The pace of advancement in other OpenSource projects looks like it will slow
down dramatically, as far as video / display technologies are concerned.  An
opportunity for OBOS, perhaps?

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