Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: VGA/Graphics Driver
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From: Mark Gray <markgray@iago.nac.net>
Date: 04 Feb 2000 01:18:58 -0500
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Schweig <bschweig@eudoramail.com> writes:

> Hi,
> 
> Anyone know of a VGA or any graphics driver available for MINIX?

> If not, I've got the time to throw one together - I just need to
> know where to get the info for the VGA chipset. Anyone know where I
> can get it?

There is a compilation of chipset docs put together by Finn Thoegersen
available:

[snip]
The complete archive (VGADOC4.ZIP) is available via ftp from
many sites:

  ftp.coast.net:/SimTel/msdos/vga/vgadoc4.zip

  garbo.uwasa.fi:/pc/doc-hard/vgadoc4.zip

  sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk:/packages/simtel/msdos/vga/vgadoc4.zip
[end quote]

There is also VGAIntro.zip available somewhere on simtel mirrors.

You probably should look into getting a book (vga is rather a mind
bending hardware standard otherwise).  I recommend Michael Abrash's
"Graphics Programming Black Book" ISBN: 1-57610-174-6

> I hear the term 'VESA' thrown around - what's that?

It is a set of standards put out by the Video Electronics Standards
Association:

PURPOSE

To standardize a common software interface to Super VGA video adapters
in order to provide simplified software application access to advanced
VGA products.

SUMMARY

The standard provides a set of functions which an application program
can use to A) obtain information about the capabilities and
characteristics of a specific Super VGA implementation and B) to
control the operation of such hardware in terms of video mode
initialization and video memory access.  The functions are provided as
an extension to the VGA BIOS video services, accessed through
interrupt 10h.

Hope this helps.
