Subject:
RE: [nanogui] status of nano-X/microwindows project
From:
Junior ####@####.####
Date:
8 Jul 2010 17:25:22 -0000
Message-Id: <C969A5C97AA.00000706ejr@inbox.com>
Great news!
I had a long standing issue related to framebuffer drawing so I will plan on revisiting it with this new code.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ####@####.####
> Sent: Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:27:55 -0600
> To: ####@####.####
> Subject: [nanogui] status of nano-X/microwindows project
>
> Hi guys -
>
> It's been quite a while since I've communicated about what's
> happening with our nano-X/Microwindows project and development
> plans. As many know, other than having moved to a git repository
> earlier this year, the website hadn't been updated in five years.
> Prior to the beginning of this year, I had been involved in other
> endeavours, and hadn't had time for new development, hardly
> enough time to apply the many patches that have been received
> (thank you for all of them!)
>
> The good news is that there have been quite a few changes
> in the last six months, and they're finally to the point that
> they will be very useful and relevant for everybody using the
> project. I have been working very hard daily the
> last three months and have applied very many of the patches
> received that can be tested, and have achieved some great
> new enhancements. All of this is now checked into git, and
> available on the current microwindows-src-snapshot.tar.gz tarball.
>
> While my initial plan (for years) was just to get all the patches applied
> and ship them as v0.92, there have been some nagging concerns with
> the underlying implementation, and I've finally decided that it
> would be far better to release something with major benefits, rather
> than effectively a patch release. We are finally ready to consider
> releasing a much improved nano-X/Microwindows, that I think
> everyone will want to upgrade to.
>
> I have made big architectural changes to some lower level algorithms
> and data structures, in the engine and driver layers. The new driver
> architecture is not fully completed, but it is working. There have
> only been patches applied to the nano-X and win32 API layers,
> so all programs should continue to run. Below I give an
> overview of these new features, with followup emails if requested
> with more detail on each. Enjoy!
>
> *Cool new features
>
> o huge speed improvements in image drawing and font glyph drawing
> (10x faster, no inner loop procedure calls or if statements, drawing
> directly to framebuffer, with clipping at upper level)
>
> o new fast convblit architecture supports builtin, PCF, FNT, Freetype 2,
> and Adobe Type 1 fonts for all rotations (normal, right, left, down)
> on all bpp (1,2,4,8,15,16,24,32) for non-aliased text drawing, and
> full anti-aliasing for FT2 and T1 fonts on 15,16,24 and 32bpp (other
> drivers possible, just not written). This allows truetype font
> display
> on all resolutions, including 1bpp.
>
> o fast blit is used for all RGB and RGBA images (with SRCOVER
> alpha compositing) in all rotations. PNG, TIFF and PNM images,
> and some JPG are currently converted internally to RGB/RGBA format.
> Other image decoder conversion coming.
>
> o fallback support to old code when new driver conversion blit
> not available. Images or display formats not supported or
> written/tested with the new architecture fall back to using
> the older code and drawing pixel-by-pixel (w/alpha).
>
> o endian-neutral blits, with explicit support for 32bpp BGRA,
> 24bpp BGR, and RGB 565/555 framebuffer formats. 32bpp
> ARGB and any other combination easily possible with small
> changes in new conversion blit infrastructure. Pixels are always
> laid out in proper byte order regardless of processor endianness,
> without #ifdefs.
>
> o Freetype 2/Adobe T1 driver rewrites - scaleable width now also
> specifiable, and full caching and cmap cache for FT2, using v2.3.12.
> Nagging PCF font issues fixed.
>
> o FBE - Framebuffer emulator. Emulates 1,2,4,8,15,16,24 and 32bpp
> on X11 to display nano-X server drawing to mmap'd framebuffer.
> Great for debugging or seeing a different pixel format than your
> desktop. Display is completed, need to add support for X11
> mouse and keyboard.
>
> o major driver cleanup - deprecate/combine stretchblits, fold drawarea
> into new blit architecture. Still working on GdArea/GdBlit
> consolidation. I will write an article on this new architecture.
> Drivers
> are simpler as the conversion blits are handled at the engine layer
> using macros and inline procedures, near-duplicated code isn't
> spread out across each driver.
>
> o support for upcoming compositing engine with very fast SRCOVER
> alpha blending in all blits, all rotations. Macros are used for all
> blending, for understandability and testing.
>
> o minor items: 64-bit compatibility, Sony PSP, Blackfin, RTEMS, eCos
> and tomtom ports. Win32 dialog, messagebox and control enhancements.
> MWROP changes/simplification. Most all 0.92 patches applied.
> Builtin window manager for LINK_APP_INTO_SERVER.
>
> o deprecate Freetype v1
>
> o near-completed: fonts.alias/fonts.dir and multiple directory XLFD
> font lookup and matching for PCF, Truetype and T1 fonts.
>
> o coming: gamma correction for alpha-blending
>
> *Needed
>
> o Documentation update (doxygen created PDF, HTML version also
> with updated architecture articles). Integration of Gary James'
> old documentation site.
>
> o Website redesign and update
>
> Please feel free to try it out or comment.
>
> Have fun!
>
> Greg
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> To unsubscribe, e-mail: ####@####.####
> For additional commands, e-mail: ####@####.####
____________________________________________________________
FREE 3D MARINE AQUARIUM SCREENSAVER - Watch dolphins, sharks & orcas on your desktop!
Check it out at http://www.inbox.com/marineaquarium
