A Simplified Implementation of the Fixed-Function Graphics Pipeline: DRM Approach
Nakhoon Baek · International Journal of Advanced Trends in Computer Science and Engineering · 2020
In modern computer graphics architecture, the graphics processing unit (GPU) has a major role.Since GPU instructions and memory managements are hard to be directly controlled by application programmers, three-dimensional graphics application libraries, including OpenGL and DirectX, are widely used.In the Linux-family operating systems, they provide a set of kernel-level supporting modules.In this paper, we use those modules, such as the direct rendering manager (DRM) module, the kernel mode setting (KMS) module, and the graphics execution manager (GEM) module, to implement a fixed-function graphics pipeline.Our prototype system shows that those DRM modules can provide the full 3D graphics features without 3D graphics libraries and graphics window systems.Our detailed design and implementation schemes are presented.