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Path: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!nntp.coast.net!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!news.mathworks.com!nntp.primenet.com!news.primenet.com!jstern From: jstern@primenet.com (Josh Stern) Newsgroups: comp.graphics.api.misc,comp.graphics.algorithms,comp.windows.x.i386unix,gnu.misc.discuss,comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc,comp.os.linux.development.apps Subject: Re: Freeware community needs 3d library NOW Date: 25 Jun 1996 20:53:06 -0700 Organization: Primenet Services for the Internet Lines: 62 Message-ID: <4qqc72$d87@nnrp1.news.primenet.com> References: <4qlf04$7pj@guysmiley.blarg.net> <4qmk1d$98b@newsgate.dircon.co.uk> <31D09BA1.705E3294@lambert.org> X-Posted-By: jstern@usr4.primenet.com Xref: euryale.cc.adfa.oz.au comp.graphics.api.misc:628 comp.graphics.algorithms:28967 comp.windows.x.i386unix:20353 gnu.misc.discuss:26708 comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:22129 comp.os.linux.development.apps:18054 Terry Lambert <terry@lambert.org> wrote: >Ian Kemmish wrote: >] People currently write device drivers for existing 2D chipsets >] for these freeware platforms, so the interface details must be >] available. What makes interfacing to 3D chipsets different? >] If they're all going to be working to the D3D API, then surely >] the situation becomes easier, not harder, than at present? >Actually, the difference is that many 3D capable hardware vendors >are not publishing programming information, except under NDA. > >The net effect of this is making any interface written with >legally obtained materials impossible to distribute as source >code. > >Freeware platforms distribute source code, or they aren't freeware >platforms. Perhaps it would be a good idea for the free software community to initiate a more public and organized campaign to recruit the cooperation of 3D hardware vendors. I can imagine the following sequence of steps: 1) draft a letter to be sent to the various hardware vendors informing of them of what information is needed in order for the free software community to be able to develop software that interoperates with their hardware, and hence what is necessary for them to do in order for the free software community to include their products in the lists of recommended hardware to be circulated on the Internet; also inform these vendors that the developers intend to publicly encourage people not to purchase 3D products that will not be supported in the future; ask the hardware vendors if they will make a committment to releasing the necessary info for future versions of their cards so that their products can be generally recommended 2) send the letters to the hardware vendors and let them respond as they see fit 3) vocally discuss the results of the letter campaign in the newsgroups and make people aware of which hardware will be supported. At the present time, people might be apt to assume that most mainstream cards will be supported in time. The steps outlined above would enable them to obtain much more specific information. - Josh -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- jstern jstern@primenet.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------