Kernel-Based X11 Server Claims 2x Performance Over X.Org

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Kernel-Based X11 Server Claims 2x Performance Over X.Org

MicroXwin is an X.Org Server alternative for an X Windows System implementation for Unix/Linux desktop. The developers behind MicroXwin are claiming that by implementing their X Server in the kernel they are getting a 2x performance advantage while using less memory and being binary compatible with Xlib...

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=MTM5NDU

[Vim_User]

A Xserver in the kernel? Doesn't that mean that the kernel panics when the Xserver crashes?

[DebianLinuxero]

So kernel developers rant about how difficult is maintain the code due its complexity and here it goes one pal that adds a lot more code.

And what code ...

Even if it's leaner, it stands X, with all that complex architecture and stuff.

Now in kernel ...


Maybe would be usefull in embeded systems. But for desktop and servers ... well.

[david_lynch]

Phoronix: Kernel-Based X11 Server Claims 2x Performance Over X.Org

MicroXwin is an X.Org Server alternative for an X Windows System implementation for Unix/Linux desktop. The developers behind MicroXwin are claiming that by implementing their X Server in the kernel they are getting a 2x performance advantage while using less memory and being binary compatible with Xlib...

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=MTM5NDU

I'm sure we'll hear about all the downsides of such a thing in this thread. But for a hard core gamer, an X server that provides this much of a performance win would be worth it.

[ChemicalBrother]

So, um, benchmarks?

[Auzy]

A Xserver in the kernel? Doesn't that mean that the kernel panics when the Xserver crashes?

Definitely sounds like it is a step backwards for everything except performance. Also, f you upgrade your kernel, there is probably more likelihood that the Xserver will need a recompiled/to be patched to work again.

In contrast, on Windows with Nvidia (and maybe other drivers), and possibly Wayland, if the graphics driver crashes, it may be possible to recover automatically without a reboot / work-loss.

Technically, its easier to get better performance probably out of anything by sticking it into the kernel, but, with a good design, you could probably obtain similar performance from user-land anyway (along with better security).

[TheOne]

Raspberry Pi Support?

Would be cool to see this running on a raspberry pi since this kind of hardware would definitely show if the performance is really that great

[ShadowBane]

Anyone else wonder why the video is running on a VM under Windows?

Just saying... I would expect a linux dev to be working under linux.

[dh04000]

Anyone want to build a distro on this for the lolz?

[coder543]

Anyone else wonder why the video is running on a VM under Windows?

Just saying... I would expect a linux dev to be working under linux.

It's honestly just insulting.

They are

• dangerously rewriting X as a kernel module
• keeping this unverified source code completely closed
• somehow not breaking the GPL by the above statement
• and to top it off, they're running this all in a VM on Windows 7.

They need to re-evaluate their priorities, and I'd like someone to explain to me how they're able to do this in-kernel without releasing the source code?