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  • From: James Miller <jamtat AT mailsnare.net>
  • To: baslinux AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [BL] interesting news: fbui
  • Date: Tue, 2 Nov 2004 14:21:25 -0600 (CST)

I read today about an interesting project that aims to make a framebuffer
the runs within the kernel (that's my poor grasp of what it is, anyway).
It's something to maybe keep an eye on for BL, low-resource computing
needs. Problems with it currently are: 1) that it's still in very stages
of development; 2) it's only available for more recent 2.6.x kernels (was
available for 2.6.8, will soon be available for 2.6.9). Here are some
excerpts from the site, along with a url (sccreenshot available):

FBUI

FBUI is a small, in-kernel graphical user interface for Linux. It permits
you to put windows in each framebuffer-based virtual console, to read
keyboard input and track the mouse pointer.

I've put this code in the kernel as a preventative measure against
software bloat. Most programmers have the tendency to produce ever-growing
software, and if one wants to prevent unlimited growth, it is convenient
to put the GUI in a place that does not tolerate it -- the kernel.

Software bloat is bad because

* It keeps us all on the treadmill of always buying new hardware, which
ultimately new software makes painfully slow, thus were are always falling
behind. But the software makes the system slow because it is poorly
designed, poorly implemented and therefore bloated. Thus the
purchasing-treadmill is economically wasteful.

Bloat is also bad for the Environment, since the manufacture of computer
equipment involves the use of numerous very nasty chemicals which
inevitably end up in the soil and water. Similarly, the disposal of
electronics results in chemicals leaching out of circuit boards, LCDs
(which contain mercury) and so on.

FBUI, besides helping with Bloat Liberation, also assists people who are
prohibited from using X Windows because they are using resource-limited
platforms such as older computers and embedded devices. On these, X is
often an undesired burden. FBUI is so small it could never be burden.

Taken from: http://home.comcast.net/~plinius/fbui.html



  • [BL] interesting news: fbui, James Miller, 11/02/2004

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