Re: [PATCH] Export shmem_file_setup and shmem_getpage for DRM-GEM

On Wed, 6 Aug 2008 18:20:40 +0200
"Stephane Marchesin" <marchesin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On 8/5/08, Keith Packard <keithp@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Mon, 2008-08-04 at 22:25 -0400, John Stoffel wrote:

> What about the onboard memory of graphics cards? Isn't that
> where Textures and such are stored as well? So once something
> is loaded to the card, shouldn't you be able to free it in
> system memory? Or swap it out ahead of time?


Right now, I'm working only on Intel integrated graphics, which
doesn't have any on-board memory. My thinking is that we'd best
solve the easiest case first before attempting the harder discrete
graphics driver. Plus, Intel pays me do do integrated graphics, so
I have an incentive.


Right, but it sounds adventurous to merge this work upstream before it
is generic enough to work on discrete cards. Right now it only works
on intel integrated cards ; integrated cards are one business,
discrete are a completely different world and the issues afoot
completely different.

Should this go upstream, the kernel guys have to keep in mind and
accept the possibility that another memory manager might be needed at
some point.

the ATI driver guys already have the interface working.

In addition.. since when is "oh you must also make it work for THAT" a
requirement? Traditionally, it's up to the second person to make
generic code work for them (within reason of course, but I'll argue
that the bar of reasonableness has been met here)

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