Re: ITP plex86, if it complies to DFSG
On 11 Dec 2000, Goswin Brederlow wrote:
> ferret@phonewave.net writes:
>
> > On Mon, 4 Dec 2000, Hamish Moffatt wrote:
> >
> > Yep. I think the crucial point here is if the executable code in question
> > is designed to execute on an hardware peripheral device and communicate
> > with software running on the host CPU through an API (Note that EMULATING
> > the device for testing purposes is still kosher, even though now the
> > firmware would be in fact executing on the host CPU), or is designed
> > to execute on the host CPU as an application or portion thereof.
> >
> > Here, we can easily place Creative DXr2 firmware (for example) into the
> > first category, and place Netscape into the second category.
> >
> > I'd have to say now that probably the plex86 BIOS would probably have to
> > go in the application category, IF it is written/modified for plex86
> > instead of being a 'generic' BIOS with no modifications.
>
> AFAIK the bios is written for some realy old vga graphics card and the
> bochs author got permission to use it while emulating that graphics
> card. Its not written or modfied for bochs or plex but rather the
> other way around.
So the BIOS is from an actual VGA card. Firmware. =)
> Also the bios is running in bochs on its virtual maschine or under
> plex on the real cpu. So for bochs ist firmware and for plex its a
> program.
Still firmware. 'firmware' seems to be more of a technical policy decision
than anything else. Do we (Debian) have anything that specifically covers
downloadable firmware in policy? I have not seen anything that looked a
close match so far.
> > A generic BIOS, not modified for use by an emulator, but freely
> > redistributable could still be considered 'firmware' in the sense above,
> > in that it was designed to be generic and not for that (or any other)
> > specific machine. I don't think the plex86 BIOS would qualify, though.
>
> I started writing a FB Graphics Device for Bochs and adapting that to
> plex should close this thread. :)
Even better. Thanks. But will plex be able to render framebuffer into an X
window? Not that I can even run plex, as it reboots my machine.
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