SDL2 Reverts Its Wayland Preference - Goes Back To X11 Default

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  • Myownfriend
    Senior Member
    • Mar 2021
    • 1043

    Originally posted by ezst036 View Post
    However, It's impossible to miss that this stunt of holding up GBM only really accomplished one thing for Nvidia and that was additional scorn
    The story I've always heard is that the OSS community wanted Nvidia to be part of the conversation when it came to determining a buffer sharing API and they didn't show. The OSS community decided on GBM and Nvidia came in afterwards to expressed their issue then came back with EGLStreams which was made by them and only them. They even apoligized for how they handled the EGLStreams proposal. Nvidia had no say in GBM and OSSC had no say in EGLStreams.

    They even apoligized for how they handles

    Originally posted by mdedetrich View Post
    That is actually the main reason why NVidia pushed EGLStreams, you can go back and read the mailing lists. The main fundemental difference with EGLStreams is it has explicit synchronization baked into the API and thats why it wasn't really compatible with GBM at the time (precisely because GBM had a different synchronization model, i.e. it was implicit).

    Read https://lwn.net/Articles/814587/

    Its a combination of either doesn't support or supports with hacks/workarounds that often hurt performance (although in some cases the performance hit isn't an issue). There are for example issues with Vulkan integration which has the same fundamental issue (Vulkan's API is explicit sync only)
    I actually found that same article after my last post. I'm rooting for Jason's efforts. I have to point out that he doesn't really talk about GBM. He mentions Vulkan, OpenGL, Wayland, X11, i915/gem, amdgpu, KMS, V4L, gstreamer, and VAAPI when he's going down the list of what supports what and he mentions Linux's implicit synchronization is via DMA-BUF and DMA-Fence but GBM isn't mentioned at all.

    I also found this PDF from Nvidia about explicit synchonization which echoes that statement about DMA-buf but it doesn't mention GBM either.



    In a presentation in 2014, Nvidia said that GBM is fine, that they can use it, and pointed out that they could just use the Mesa implementation just like they wound up doing 7 years later. They just thought EGLStreams was better.

    Phoronix, Linux Hardware Reviews, Linux hardware benchmarks, Linux server benchmarks, Linux benchmarking, Desktop Linux, Linux performance, Open Source graphics, Linux How To, Ubuntu benchmarks, Ubuntu hardware, Phoronix Test Suite


    Clearly they have some issues with GBM though because they were working on something that could replace or kind of extend GBM but they haven't worked on it in 5 years.

    Originally posted by mdedetrich View Post
    You have the wrong summary, he said it quite well here
    That was him listing three possible solutions for fixing an issue with XWayland. I quoted the other part because it was his judgement of the current state of the graphic stack in Linux in general.

    Originally posted by mdedetrich View Post
    In other words, NVIdia could support implicit sync now but because its a massive hack/workaround the performance penalty would be massive.

    And one thing to note is that this is NOW. Back half a decade ago (or even more), NVidia's driver was the same in design (only designed for explicit sync) however the linux community behind the graphics stack didn't even get to the point of contemplating supporting explicit sync and scoffed at the concept of being told by NVidia that basically "you are using an inferior design from the pre 2000's era, maybe you should consider changing it?"
    He says this just before that list:

    "Yes, it certainly sounds like a sync issue. Our driver has no way to implement implicit sync, so it doesn't. For the most part, our kernel driver is blissfully unaware of what work is in flight and which buffers that work uses. It doesn't care beyond ensuring clients don't interfere with buffers they haven't allocated themselves or been granted access to, which the HW itself takes care of for the most part. We've been evaluating various ways to work around this issue for Xwayland specifically without tanking perf, but none of them have panned out so far. They either break X protocol guarantees, or don't work. Regardless, these mechanisms would only work for GL/Vulkan-based applications. Native X rendering in glamor itself still wouldn't sync properly unless using the EGLStream backend, where EGLStream handles synchronization internally from my understanding."

    Originally posted by mdedetrich View Post
    I am only going to make the following remark which is that NVidia cares about their brand which also means their performance more than anything else. This means that compelling them to work on a solution that is technically inferior and will negatively harm their image is not going to work regardless if its open source or not. Its highly arrogant for the Linux community to expect them to able to compel NVidia to "work with them" when the same community is stubbornly refusing changes.

    If you actually go through the mailing lists you will see the intention is very clear, the main point of contention is that Linux was telling NVidia "if you want to work with us, you have to do things our way and use GBM and other inferior technologies at the time", Linux community was at that time not open at all about changing the design of their stack. So don't be surprised that in NVidia's position they wouldn't take Linux community seriously or in good faith, and they didn't.

    I would highly recommend you read this article https://lwn.net/Articles/814587/ , its very clear that we got to this place because the Linux graphics stack community was very stubborn about sticking to implicit sync and they are only changing now because their hand is forced, this is also demonstrated in comments like this one https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xorg/...7#note_1273350.
    To ezst036's point though, if one of the owners of Mesa wants explicit sync then I don't get where how it can be claimed that the Linux community is against it on the grounds of Nvidia wanting it, too. Jason and Nvidia seem to agree but has Nvidia helped him with that at all? In the same part of James's post where I bolded the bit about dma-buf, he mentions that he's aware of the work that Jason talked about in the article you posted.

    I don't think a comment from Michel Danzer's alone is proof that Nvidia isn't welcome to help make the transition to explicit sync.

    Originally posted by mdedetrich View Post
    Ultimately in the end you should be thanking NVidia, because of their persistence in not compromising on technically inferior solutions the Linux graphics community has finally realized that they need to change stuff and NVidia was a primary driver for that (along with things like Vulkan existing).
    That doesn't make sense to me either. I don't feel like it's been Nvidia that forced the Linux graphics community to go with explicit sync. They've certainly been a voice in that but more likely that Vulkan was a bigger factor since Nvidia isn't as involved as they could be.

    But just to be extra clear, I do think the stack should go explicit sync, but that doesn't change the fact that Nvidia could have been more collaborative and definitely hindered Wayland adoption a lot.

    Comment

    • Myownfriend
      Senior Member
      • Mar 2021
      • 1043

      Originally posted by arQon View Post
      As predictable as ever...SDL makes Wayland the default, fanboys rejoice like they were actually involved in the project at all, like football fans thinking their team only won because they wore their lucky shirt that day or whatever. Then crow about how X is "dead" and Wayland is awesome etc etc.
      Why does anybody actually had to have been involve to be glad to see Wayland adoption moving forward? As someone who uses Wayland, I'd absolutely like to see it more adopted.

      Originally posted by arQon View Post
      SDL reverts to X because Wayland still isn't ready after 15 years, fanboys "defend" it saying it's only been 10 years, and besides, it's all the compositor's fault. Or Mesa's, or nvidia's, or a specific distro, or literally *anything* except where the blame actually belongs: with the team that keeps failing to deliver something adequately functional, over and over again.
      I'm trying to think what posts you might have seen that would have sounded like "It's all the compositor's fault" to you. Just you were only half listening.

      But you know what, believe what you want, QAnon.

      Comment

      • ezst036
        Senior Member
        • Feb 2018
        • 681

        Originally posted by Myownfriend View Post
        The story I've always heard is that the OSS community wanted Nvidia to be part of the conversation when it came to determining a buffer sharing API and they didn't show. The OSS community decided on GBM and Nvidia came in afterwards to expressed their issue then came back with EGLStreams which was made by them and only them. They even apoligized for how they handled the EGLStreams proposal. Nvidia had no say in GBM and OSSC had no say in EGLStreams.

        They even apoligized for how they handles
        I was advised to attempt to go read old mailing list archives, so that's what I tried doing. I do think to some extent that "everybody is correct", which is why the controversy remains. What I mean, is that no, Wayland is not as feature complete as X.org. Yes, Nvidia's chicanery did in fact stall Wayland for many years. Yes, it appears to me, GBM is inferior to EGLStreams.

        There are probably better links to old mailing list archives than this, however,



        It does appear that if we follow the timeline as things actually happened, GBM and associated development was well underway and Nvidia popped in and said SURPRISE! For the life of me, I can't understand why that would be considered controversial. /sarc

        One thing I could not find was if the OSS community wanted to have Nvidia as a part of the conversation prior to the 2014 EGLStreams debacle. There's what I believe, and there's what I can demonstrate. However, looking at the discussion in that devel archive, the conversations read like there's already some existing familiarity between the two camps.

        Originally posted by Myownfriend View Post
        I also found this PDF from Nvidia about explicit synchonization which echoes that statement about DMA-buf but it doesn't mention GBM either.


        In a presentation in 2014, Nvidia said that GBM is fine, that they can use it, and pointed out that they could just use the Mesa implementation just like they wound up doing 7 years later. They just thought EGLStreams was better.

        Phoronix, Linux Hardware Reviews, Linux hardware benchmarks, Linux server benchmarks, Linux benchmarking, Desktop Linux, Linux performance, Open Source graphics, Linux How To, Ubuntu benchmarks, Ubuntu hardware, Phoronix Test Suite


        Clearly they have some issues with GBM though because they were working on something that could replace or kind of extend GBM but they haven't worked on it in 5 years.
        Agreed. I found many of the same things, most of this begins with XDC 2014. Prior to XDC 2014, GBM was the only option and the community was just fine with it and chugging along in all sorts of initiatives.

        NVIDIA To Issue An Update On Their Support Of Mir & Wayland - 29 September 2014
        Phoronix, Linux Hardware Reviews, Linux hardware benchmarks, Linux server benchmarks, Linux benchmarking, Desktop Linux, Linux performance, Open Source graphics, Linux How To, Ubuntu benchmarks, Ubuntu hardware, Phoronix Test Suite


        NVIDIA 364.12 Arrives With Wayland & Mir Support - 21 March 2016
        Phoronix, Linux Hardware Reviews, Linux hardware benchmarks, Linux server benchmarks, Linux benchmarking, Desktop Linux, Linux performance, Open Source graphics, Linux How To, Ubuntu benchmarks, Ubuntu hardware, Phoronix Test Suite


        NVIDIA Publishes Patches For Its Driver To Work With Wayland's Weston - 21 March 2016
        Phoronix, Linux Hardware Reviews, Linux hardware benchmarks, Linux server benchmarks, Linux benchmarking, Desktop Linux, Linux performance, Open Source graphics, Linux How To, Ubuntu benchmarks, Ubuntu hardware, Phoronix Test Suite


        NVIDIA Continues Discussing Their Controversial Wayland Plans With Developers - 3 April 2016
        Phoronix, Linux Hardware Reviews, Linux hardware benchmarks, Linux server benchmarks, Linux benchmarking, Desktop Linux, Linux performance, Open Source graphics, Linux How To, Ubuntu benchmarks, Ubuntu hardware, Phoronix Test Suite


        Streams vs. GBM: The Fight Continues Over NVIDIA's Proposed Wayland Route - 12 May 2016
        Phoronix, Linux Hardware Reviews, Linux hardware benchmarks, Linux server benchmarks, Linux benchmarking, Desktop Linux, Linux performance, Open Source graphics, Linux How To, Ubuntu benchmarks, Ubuntu hardware, Phoronix Test Suite


        GNOME Lands Mainline NVIDIA Wayland Support Using EGLStreams - 17 November 2016
        Phoronix, Linux Hardware Reviews, Linux hardware benchmarks, Linux server benchmarks, Linux benchmarking, Desktop Linux, Linux performance, Open Source graphics, Linux How To, Ubuntu benchmarks, Ubuntu hardware, Phoronix Test Suite


        X.Org Server 1.20 RC4 Released, EGLStreams For XWayland Might Still Land - 11 April 2018
        Phoronix, Linux Hardware Reviews, Linux hardware benchmarks, Linux server benchmarks, Linux benchmarking, Desktop Linux, Linux performance, Open Source graphics, Linux How To, Ubuntu benchmarks, Ubuntu hardware, Phoronix Test Suite


        In reality, it looks like at the end of the day it was Fedora who forced Nvidia's hand into supporting GBM. When X.org was officially pushed off into the realm of abandonware, it's clear what that meant. Nvidia's driver went along with it. Nvidia can't have it's own driver being abandonware. They now have no choice, they have to support GBM. Fedora did this. Red Hat triumphed and Nvidia lost.

        It's Time To Admit It: The X.Org Server Is Abandonware - 25 October 2020
        Phoronix, Linux Hardware Reviews, Linux hardware benchmarks, Linux server benchmarks, Linux benchmarking, Desktop Linux, Linux performance, Open Source graphics, Linux How To, Ubuntu benchmarks, Ubuntu hardware, Phoronix Test Suite


        Fedora Looks To Provide Standalone XWayland Package Tracking X.Org Server Git - 30 November 2020
        Phoronix, Linux Hardware Reviews, Linux hardware benchmarks, Linux server benchmarks, Linux benchmarking, Desktop Linux, Linux performance, Open Source graphics, Linux How To, Ubuntu benchmarks, Ubuntu hardware, Phoronix Test Suite


        Within a year, we had Nvidia GBM in a way that we should've had back in 2014. That's 8 years lost. 8 years of this!

        NVIDIA 495 Linux Beta Driver Released With GBM Support - 14 October 2021
        Phoronix, Linux Hardware Reviews, Linux hardware benchmarks, Linux server benchmarks, Linux benchmarking, Desktop Linux, Linux performance, Open Source graphics, Linux How To, Ubuntu benchmarks, Ubuntu hardware, Phoronix Test Suite


        There is probably much that I could not find, meaning much that is missing. But in closing, I'll say it again. Nvidia deserves blame because they did this. But let's keep in mind, users like mdedetrich and birdie are correct also. Wayland is still inferior to x.org. Whatever the reasons, SDL2 just reverted back to X11. That alone is the proof.

        Comment

        • piotrj3
          Senior Member
          • Mar 2019
          • 840

          Originally posted by mdedetrich View Post

          That is actually the main reason why NVidia pushed EGLStreams, you can go back and read the mailing lists. The main fundemental difference with EGLStreams is it has explicit synchronization baked into the API and thats why it wasn't really compatible with GBM at the time (precisely because GBM had a different synchronization model, i.e. it was implicit).




          Read https://lwn.net/Articles/814587/

          Its a combination of either doesn't support or supports with hacks/workarounds that often hurt performance (although in some cases the performance hit isn't an issue). There are for example issues with Vulkan integration which has the same fundamental issue (Vulkan's API is explicit sync only)



          You have the wrong summary, he said it quite well here



          In other words, NVIdia could support implicit sync now but because its a massive hack/workaround the performance penalty would be massive.

          And one thing to note is that this is NOW. Back half a decade ago (or even more), NVidia's driver was the same in design (only designed for explicit sync) however the linux community behind the graphics stack didn't even get to the point of contemplating supporting explicit sync and scoffed at the concept of being told by NVidia that basically "you are using an inferior design from the pre 2000's era, maybe you should consider changing it?"

          (note that I am not saying that EGLStreams was perfect and it evidently didn't support the full range of features that was necessary for desktop composting, but what it did support properly it did at much better performance because of its explicit synchronization model).
          At this point, I think Nvidia blocking wayland with lacking implicit stuff, is benefit then loss, because long term it will be loss to continue with implicit model.

          Comment

          • Daktyl198
            Senior Member
            • Jul 2013
            • 1582

            Originally posted by caligula View Post

            I don't know about you, but if the clients and other groups assume the use of one tech, you can't just switch to something else. I think Discord is great, but it's not that commonly used for transmitting webinars etc.
            I wasn't saying to switch to Discord, I was saying that I've not used the software so I cannot speak for them. But I know that Discord was a big holdout for a while because it was on a super old Electron version. If the native versions of Slack and Zoom have updated too, then they can also run natively on Wayland.

            Comment

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