Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!mcsun!hp4nl!fwi.uva.nl!croes From: croes@fwi.uva.nl (Felix A. Croes) Newsgroups: comp.os.minix Subject: Re: ST 1.5 patch2.uaa (1/3) Message-ID: <1225@carol.fwi.uva.nl> Date: 4 Sep 90 17:16:11 GMT References: <29283@nigel.ee.udel.edu> Sender: news@fwi.uva.nl Reply-To: croes@fwi.uva.nl (Felix A. Croes) Organization: The Courts of Chaos Lines: 46 meulenbr@cst.philips.nl (Frans Meulenbroeks) writes: >I5110401%DBSTU1.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu (Kai-Uwe Bloem) writes: >>"Felix A. Croes" writes : >>>You mean for each virtual console? That is not nesseccary. Instead of >>>2 * 32k * no_of_virtual_terminals, only 32k + 32k * no_of_virtual_terminals >>>should be needed, if the code is written right. >>Yes, that might work. Haven't thought about it yet. But it implies that one >>has to copy 64 KB on every virtual console switch, or do i overlook some >>points here ? >No you don't. If you want to do it decently, you'll require 32k for each ^^^^^^^^ >screen and 64k to do the hard scrolling in. Decency has nothing to do with it. Obviously you prefer virtual consoles hardware scrolling. But for me (and perhaps for others) the reverse is true; I want at least to have the *possibility* of hardware scrolling when compiling Minix. > Otherwise you'll end up in >the situation that when switching consoles you'll have to exchange the >data between the "real screen" and the "new screen". This will give >an administrative hassle to deal with. Not very nice. Why "not very nice"? True, it will take some administration; true, it will be slower. So what? It is simply a different way to solve a problem, saving 32k in the process. >Still, with the new stvdu, I prefer to add 30 buffers instead of giving >up 32k for hard scrolling. The gain here is much more. >Of course if you have > 1MB you can have the best of both worlds. I have only 1MB, but I want to have a choice! [stuff deleted] >>However, the much smaller memory allocation for virtual consoles makes it >>very interesting for people with memory shortage. It is the only way that I am going to accept virtual consoles. >It is indeed interesting for people with memory shortage. However, in the >future it is quite possible that screen graphics are added to minix. Optionally I hope! Speaking for myself, my private version of Minix is certainly going to have hardware scrolling. If I have time, I will post the diffs. -- Felix Croes (croes@fwi.uva.nl)