gSoC wstablet | final update

["Jason Beaudoin" <jasonbeaudoin%gmail.com@localhost>]

Hiya folks!

Here is a status update on the wscons/wstablet SoC project, for those
of you who are interested.


Cheers!
~Jason



                    NetBSD wstablet (extending wscons)

                         Google Summer of Code 2008

                              Jason W. Beaudoin
                              August 18th, 2008


###################
# Current Status: #
###################
 . wstablet currently supports, and will provide events (type/value) for:
     . absolute/relative x/y location
     . switching between absolute and relative modes
     . pen tip pressure, and stylus twist
     . stylus x/y tilt
     . multiple stylus devices with SWDEV and dev_id
 . wsconsctl has been imported and the framework to support wstablet,
has been added.
 . man pages and relevant documentation is current and now follows
wstablet updates.
 . The wstablet API is almost complete, and the remaining items will
fall into place with more use and testing on real hardware.


##############
# Next TODO: #
##############
 . add anymore tablet-specific ioctls, if any are needed
 . device mux support, better to wait for testing this round of code?
 . generic tablet driver (good example of using the API)


###################
# Since Mid-Term: #
###################
 . finished rev2 of the design specification.
 . discuss with tech-kern, more research, and refine functionality of API.
 . work to understand kernel build process and adding system drivers.
 . setup/figure out a testing environment.
 . setup hacked pms driver to use wstablet for testing.
 . fix wstablet, get it functional :)


#######################
# Progress This Week: #
#######################
 . "figured out" kernel/device driver integration.
 . more wstablet testing and scrubbing code.
 . added support for "relative" tablet mode.
 . added support for switching stylus devices and tablet modes.
 . man pages and quick "how to test" documentation written.
 . imported wsconsctl, as well as previous work done on wsconsctl code.
 . updated wsconsctl, framework now in place, we just need to
implement the get/set mode ioctls.
 . began work on specialized (device-driver-independent) code for
wstablet testing.


###############
# Milestones: #
###############
[looking back, it's difficult to determine milestones you don't yet
understand :]
 . familiarize with wscons code; familiarize with device allocation,
    configuration, system management, and how to manipulate or use the hardware
    through the new driver.
 . define what wstablet needs to do, what capabilities to support
 . find and understand existing kernel frameworks to implement these needs
 . figure out how to implement non-existing frameworks
 . code base
 . test/extend/test
 . add support to wsconsctl
 . documentation and tying it all together
 . generic tablet driver (not yet completed)
 . convert existing drivers/system to use wstablet (not yet completed)

########################
# Plans for after SoC: #
########################
 . continue wstablet development! there's no stopping here..
 . wrap up loose ends and more testing in software
 . illustrate API's use with generic driver
 . port to OpenBSD and continue testing
 . obtain hardware for testing (and solicite other users :)
 . write new drivers, convert existing ones, get the system using wstablet!


-- 
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JasonBeaudoin%gmail.com@localhost