Linux 5.9-rc6 Released With Soft Scrollback Removed, Performance Regression Fixed

[uid313]

So what's happening next?
They're merging a new improved soft scrollback? Or they removing this and nothing more happens, or they remove this and further removes other console-related stuff too? Maybe remove the whole console from the kernel?

Are there any plans for the console in the kernel?
I kind of would like 4K, good fonts, True Color support, but I am not sure a console belongs in the kernel. Maybe a Wayland compositor that provides a full screen console.

[skeevy420]

Yeah, good luck scrolling the kernel output when your system cannot even reach the init.

You wouldn't have that problem if you ran Linux on a VM or via WSL like all the cool kids. Luckily Windows is rock solid so I can scroll my command prompt when the kernel crashes.

That's a joke.

[birdie]

If you want scrollback in a framebuffer console, use tmux like a normal person, you probably want to anyway.

Yeah, good luck scrolling the kernel output when your system cannot even reach the init.

[George99]

I am on debian Sid/unstable. It seems debian removed soft scroll even from their 5.8.0.2 kernel (5.8.10). 5.8.0.1 works fine though.

[S.Pam]

Yea, I never could get used to tmux either.

[tildearrow]

If you want scrollback in a framebuffer console, use tmux like a normal person, you probably want to anyway.

Scrolling on Linux console and many terminal emulators: Shift-PageUp/PageDown = 2 keystrokes:
- hold Shift
- press PageUp/PageDown

Quit with any key.

Scrolling on tmux: Ctrl-B, PageUp/PageDown = 3 keystrokes:
- hold Ctrl
- press B (and release Ctrl)
- press PageUp/PageDown

Quit with Ctrl-C.

And what if I don't want the green bar at the bottom?

Furthermore how can I tell the kernel to redirect all its output to tmux and launch tmux at boot?
Otherwise how else am I supposed to scroll through kernel/systemd messages in case something goes wrong? .-.

[Alexmitter]

If you want scrollback in a framebuffer console, use tmux like a normal person, you probably want to anyway.

Why the hell would I want to use something this overcomplicated if I could just press shift+Page Up/Down... I will rather use the good old GNU Screen.

[Mark Rose]

Now Linux has matched MS-DOS levels of scroll back!

[_Alex_]

"That code is now in Linux 5.9-rc6 and the performance is back on track with Linux 5.8 while I will have out more benchmark numbers soon on the revised Linux 5.8 vs. 5.9 performance state"

There still may be regressions in 5.9 if its at 5.8 levels of performance, given that the FSGS patch was making things quite faster from what I remember... but let's wait for the benchmarks....

[microcode]

If you want scrollback in a framebuffer console, use tmux like a normal person, you probably want to anyway.