Date: Thu, 15 Sep 1994 14:00:25 -0500 (CDT)
From: ALAN L HIGHTOWER <alh AT engr DOT engr DOT uark DOT edu>
Subject: Re: GRAPHICS DRIVERS
To: jeff DOT fox AT chrysalis DOT org
Cc: djgpp AT sun DOT soe DOT clarkson DOT edu



On Wed, 14 Sep 1994 jeff DOT fox AT chrysalis DOT org wrote:

> I have just started to use djgpp. I am using version 1.12. My main interest
> right now is in graphics programming. I have a few questions.

> 1. How do I get drivers for a Diamond Speed Star card and a Cirrus Logic card?

       I'm pretty sure there are a wide range of Cirrus based Chipset 
drivers for djgpp/libgrx/lgr that either:

     a)  come with the djgpp base zip's

     b)  are included in the libgrx package (cb*.zip)

     c)  can be found in various driver packs on omnigate.clarkson.edu 

       As for Diamond cards, well Diamond is notorious for it's lack of 
thrid party tolerance, especially non-paying third parties (e.g. GNU/FSF)
But, I believe the standard Speedstar uses the TSeng ET-4000 chipset, one 
that there are plenty of DJGPP drivers for in the above mentioned places.


> 2. Is there any True Color (24bit) support for djgpp?

     Sadly, no, unless you program the DAC yourself. :)  There is however, 
32k color mode support.


> 3. How do I get my program to automagically choose the right driver?  
> Or do I have to include drivers with my program and let the user 
> specify the driver via set go32=driver...etc.?

     The new go32 (as of on of the 1.11 maints) includes the new VESA 
mode driver.  As long as the end user has a VESA compatible card, 
everything is fine and dandy.  If they don't, yes you will have to supply 
a driver pack (maybe in a single resource file), then extract the right 
driver in a setup program and set go32=driver...

> 4. Is there a VESA driver? 

     Yes, see question #3.

> Would it solve the problem I described in question #3?

     Yes, although you may want to consider including the extra drivers 
as djgpp/libgrx development progresses, because there might be 
capabilities exploited in newer driver formats that go beyond the VESA 
standard, i.e. 1024x768x16M maybe?  We'll just have to see or contribute 
to what comes out of development.


> 5. Are there other graphics libs that are better than lgr?  If so where 
> do I find them?

     Most definatly, libgrx.  It is the CB*.ZIP series on oakland or your 
favorite djgpp site.


> 6. Has anyone gotten David Wu's DYL2.ZIP and gotten it to work? How is it?

     Just got it, haven't tried to use it, but am excited at the prospect.