Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Better Looking Linux: Tungsten Graphics

Posted by Hemos on from the return-of-precision-insight dept.

Several folks have e-mailed about the formation of Tungsten Graphics, which is composed of quite a number of ex-Precision Insighters. Linuxgames is carrying a bit of a conversation with Frank LaMonica, the CEO of the new company. They've got a contract with Red Hat already in place. Frank's statement summarizes what they are doing well: "The work we are doing involves Mesa ? and XFree86, including both 2D and 3D multi-screen technology, and we are working very closely with the OpenGL ? ARB to maintain the integrity of the OpenGL API. We believe that OpenGL 2.0 needs more industry support, so we are working to help generate that support. DRI ? technology is still in its infancy, and TG plans to help bring it to full fruition. Our first step in that goal is to significantly improve the existing open source DRI driver for the Radeon chipset. That driver is tentatively scheduled for release in late spring or early summer of 2002. "

2 of 164 comments (clear)

  1. Not very supportive of Open source by A+Commentor · · Score: 5, Interesting
    We believe that some code MUST be open source, other code can go either way, and some, especially at the lowest levels of hardware and the code within applications, can be completely closed with no loss of benefit to the industry or its customers.

    Didn't we have to face this problem before with some of the video card (S3?) manufactures that refused to give out programming information... Code to control hardware should be open just like any of the other code.

    --

    Looking for any old 8-bit Heathkit/Zenith software/hardware - http://heathkit.garlanger.com

    1. Re:Not very supportive of Open source by MrHat · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Nice find - they have this completely reversed.

      People should *demand* that code closest to the hardware is open source. Look at it this way: a company collapses and takes with it a base of code. Would you rather it be a driver at the core of your display subsystem, or your text editor? One product has alternatives that don't render your existing hardware useless.

      Did you buy into the Circuit City Divx thing? No? Then you shouldn't go for this kind of crap either. Companies that get my money are the ones that aren't afraid of full disclosure.

      IIRC, a similar issue with print drivers was the driving force in the establishment of the GNU project.