[TUHS] Origins of the frame buffer device

[Grant Taylor via TUHS]

On 3/5/23 8:01 AM, Paul Ruizendaal via TUHS wrote:
> However, it would seem at first glance that early SunOS also had a 
> frame buffer device (/dev/cgoneX. /dev/bwoneX, etc.) which was similar 
> in nature (a character device that could be mmap’ed to give access 
> to the hardware frame buffer, and ioctl’s to probe and configure the 
> hardware). Is that correct, or were these entirely different in nature?

My limited understanding is that PC compatibles, and thus Linux, with 
their VGA et al. cards had /text/ character support that other systems 
did not have.  As such PCs ~> Linux /didn't/ /need/ frame buffer support 
in the beginning.

Conversely all systems that didn't have such cards /did/ /need/ frame 
buffer from the start.

I consider Linux's frame buffer to be a late comer compared to other 
systems.



-- 
Grant. . . .
unix || die

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