AMD Publishes R600 and R700 3D Code
Close to year's end, U.S. chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has released the Linux code for its ATI R600 and R700 microprocessors.
As the Phoronix hardware portal announces, AMD is delivering to open source developers, through the release of the code, the tools to support 3D for all ATI graphics processors, even for the newest cards. Per the announcement, "For end-users, today's releases are a significant milestone in the step towards open-source ATI 3D support on the Linux desktop." Also, "there is a chance" that the Linux distro will be available the second quarter of 2009 and include the 3D support.
Developers having been waiting for AMD's announcement since the ATI graphics processors first started to appear on the market. The California chipmaker acquired the ATI graphics specialists in October 2006 and adopted a strategy in September 2007 to release documentation for its ATI drivers under Open Source licensing. The first free drivers in cooperation with Novell appeared shortly thereafter and AMD released documentation for further processors in February 2008, albeit under a non-disclosure agreement.
Phoronix explained why it took almost 15 months to release the R600 documentation: "[AMD coworkers] John Bridgman and Alex Deucher have been working on deciding what code or documentation is needed for programming, sanitize it of any information not relevant to bringing up the 3D engine, remove any details concerning future ATI hardware, and then getting all of this work cleared by AMD's lead software and hardware architects so that it can be publicly released without any NDAs or other string attached."
The currently released documentation focuses solely on the 3D engine, but AMD promises further specifications, such as for the Unified Video Decoder. The code has been available up to now for free in various git repositories at the freedesktop.org website.
Issue 269/2023
Buy this issue as a PDF
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Find SysAdmin Jobs
News
-
MNT Seeks Financial Backing for New Seven-Inch Linux Laptop
MNT Pocket Reform is a tiny laptop that is modular, upgradable, recyclable, reusable, and ships with Debian Linux.
-
Ubuntu Flatpak Remix Adds Flatpak Support Preinstalled
If you're looking for a version of Ubuntu that includes Flatpak support out of the box, there's one clear option.
-
Gnome 44 Release Candidate Now Available
The Gnome 44 release candidate has officially arrived and adds a few changes into the mix.
-
Flathub Vying to Become the Standard Linux App Store
If the Flathub team has any say in the matter, their product will become the default tool for installing Linux apps in 2023.
-
Debian 12 to Ship with KDE Plasma 5.27
The Debian development team has shifted to the latest version of KDE for their testing branch.
-
Planet Computers Launches ARM-based Linux Desktop PCs
The firm that originally released a line of mobile keyboards has taken a different direction and has developed a new line of out-of-the-box mini Linux desktop computers.
-
Ubuntu No Longer Shipping with Flatpak
In a move that probably won’t come as a shock to many, Ubuntu and all of its official spins will no longer ship with Flatpak installed.
-
openSUSE Leap 15.5 Beta Now Available
The final version of the Leap 15 series of openSUSE is available for beta testing and offers only new software versions.
-
Linux Kernel 6.2 Released with New Hardware Support
Find out what's new in the most recent release from Linus Torvalds and the Linux kernel team.
-
Kubuntu Focus Team Releases New Mini Desktop
The team behind Kubuntu Focus has released a new NX GEN 2 mini desktop PC powered by Linux.