Re: [RFC] new APIs to use wskbd(4) input on non-wsdisplay ttydevices

[Izumi Tsutsui <tsutsui%ceres.dti.ne.jp@localhost>]

macallan@ wrote:

> > I'd like to add new APIs to use wskbd(4) input on non-wsdisplay
> > tty devices, especially news68k that can use a putchar function
> > provided by firmware PROM as a kernel console device.
> > 
> > # Details
> > 
> > The news68k machines have various framebuffer options, but
> > most of them are not "dumb" framebuffer that can be handled
> > by raspos(9) but some of them have own processors (68000 etc.)
> > to handle various acceleration etc. so it's difficult to implement
> > framebuffer drivers.
> 
> You can use wsdisplay without rasops or a mappable framebuffer.
> Examples would be things like newport or crmfb on sgimips.

It looks both newport and crmfb has copy and erase ops.
As I wrote another post, news68k PROM only provides putchar() function
(At least there is no info other framebuffer ops).

This means all pseudo terminal ops (backspace, clear screen etc.)
are handled by the PROM.  I still wonder if wscons(9) provides
proper interface in such case.

kd_cons_input() in sys/arch/sun3/dev/kd.c has the similar storategy
 https://github.com/NetBSD/src/blob/2722c57/sys/arch/sun3/dev/kd.c#L401-L419
 https://github.com/NetBSD/src/blob/2722c57/sys/dev/sun/kbd.c#L733-L746
but sun3 port doesn't use wscons. (yet?)

> > To support "text only" framebuffer console, we can use putchar
> > functions provided by the firmware PROM.
> 
> Does it let you draw characters wherever you want with colours of
> inverse attrubute?
> If so, that's enough for wsdisplay - sti on hppa does just that. 

Probably no color or inverse ops, unless PROM putchar() supports
proper escape sequence of them.

Thanks,
---
Izumi Tsutsui