From owner-freebsd-hackers@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Mar 6 05:11:07 2012 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id C4617106566C for ; Tue, 6 Mar 2012 05:11:07 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from bfalk_bsd@brandonfa.lk) Received: from mail-vw0-f54.google.com (mail-vw0-f54.google.com [209.85.212.54]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6F0C38FC12 for ; Tue, 6 Mar 2012 05:11:07 +0000 (UTC) Received: by vbmv11 with SMTP id v11so5151794vbm.13 for ; Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:11:06 -0800 (PST) Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of bfalk_bsd@brandonfa.lk designates 10.52.68.139 as permitted sender) client-ip=10.52.68.139; Authentication-Results: mr.google.com; spf=pass (google.com: domain of bfalk_bsd@brandonfa.lk designates 10.52.68.139 as permitted sender) smtp.mail=bfalk_bsd@brandonfa.lk; dkim=pass header.i=bfalk_bsd@brandonfa.lk Received: from mr.google.com ([10.52.68.139]) by 10.52.68.139 with SMTP id w11mr39670976vdt.110.1331010666694 (num_hops = 1); Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:11:06 -0800 (PST) DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=brandonfa.lk; s=google; h=mime-version:x-originating-ip:date:message-id:subject:from:to :content-type; bh=X5pcTowEK2MwkpgIgX1qqAFFtGh+IRaduAa005fomu8=; b=oKlcpd0j+a/53/uw5O+znLzRKmu3D5EnLYfsdq04BcaMxobrv4XQcBuOVmegX2FmJB ijB1u/og4KDMmrk6Yp35igLqXNBKW7Alyu63K5MHXZ6KORT/T4+sja8+V8X0hUzfH10a mR7MAw/9qb5CmISw5naj/m5+GatptV4MvKXw8= MIME-Version: 1.0 Received: by 10.52.68.139 with SMTP id w11mr33948634vdt.110.1331008797808; Mon, 05 Mar 2012 20:39:57 -0800 (PST) Received: by 10.220.180.133 with HTTP; Mon, 5 Mar 2012 20:39:57 -0800 (PST) X-Originating-IP: [96.255.176.77] Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2012 23:39:57 -0500 Message-ID: From: Brandon Falk To: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org X-Gm-Message-State: ALoCoQm8lncWFe0B16YcaoU2DuNoM8fyquxRpi/jVcW32Z0RBey7m8iltqP1vrOyjgyHcXp7r5qY Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.5 Subject: Graphical Terminal Environment X-BeenThere: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Technical Discussions relating to FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 06 Mar 2012 05:11:07 -0000 I've been thinking for a while about possibly making an extremely lightweight environment that supports full monitor resolution, custom fonts, and terminals... that's about it. Essentially, an x11 that only supports tiling xterms all over the place. I do everything through terminals, and I think it'd be a fun project to make something that's only purpose is to make it so you can use your entire screen to its fullest (larger resolutions, smaller fonts, etc). Just a graphical tty. Not sure how stupid this idea sounds (or if it even is already done). I've seen graphical terminals that use 1024x768 VESA graphics, but I've never seen one that can tile multiple terminals over say, 4 monitors at 1080p. I'm completely oblivious to how X11 actually gets data to the screen (besides drivers that depend on X11 itself... and this is not stripped down X11, it's a 'replacement' for people who don't need a graphical environment, but would appreciate a much more expandable terminal environment), and I'd love to get some advice or maybe even work with a team if someone thinks this idea is good. Seems like it'd be a driver specific thing at the very core of the issue. Do drivers tie in with X11, or do they do what I think they should... draw graphics where commanded to (via some universal OpenGL style API, not OpenGL->Xorg->Driver). Perhaps that's how they are... I'm rambling. Tell me if you need any clarifications, as I'm lacking in sleep and tomorrow when I read this it will probably not make any sense. -Brandon