Open-Source ARM Mali Code Published

The initial code push has taken place for the Lima Project, which is the open-source ARM Mali graphics driver that's under development.

The Lima stack development is sponsored by Codethink and its lead developer is veteran X.Org developer Luc Verhaegen. Phoronix was the first to break the news on the project last month.

The initial code is available from the Gitorious repository. This isn't a DRM or Gallium3D driver, but rather right now is basically a demo application to show that it knows how to draw a few basic shapes from user-space while banging on ARM's open-source Mali Linux kernel driver. Limare was shown on Phoronix earlier this month. It's not expected that there will be an actual/working user-space open-source 3D driver within the next six months unless ARM steps up to the plate.

The initial hardware to be supported by the reverse-engineered Lima driver is the ARM Mali 200 and Mali 400. Among the devices using Mali graphics is the popular Samsung Galaxy S2.

More information on the project can be learned from LimaDriver.org where you can also gain access to the project's mailing list, IRC channel, and other contact information.

Embedded below is also the Phoronix-recorded video where Luc formally introduced the project to the public last weekend at FOSDEM 2012.