Difference between revisions of "Framebuffer"

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On this page you will find usefull informations to have a working Linux Framebuffer on your board.
 
On this page you will find usefull informations to have a working Linux Framebuffer on your board.
 +
 +
==Introduction==
 +
Linux Framebuffer is the lowest level (standardized) API for userspace programs to access video capabilities of the system you're running on. It allows you to directly "draw" your graphics in the video memory.
 +
Some higher level librairies can be put on top of the Framebuffer for more portability: [[SDL]], [[Qt/Embedded]], GTK, DirectFB, etc...
  
 
==Kernel configuration==
 
==Kernel configuration==
'''Framebuffer is already configured (for Microtips LCD) in standard/default Armadeus kernel image'''
+
{{Note | Framebuffer is already configured (for [[LQ043_Adapt|Sharp LQ043 LCD]] on [[APF9328]] and for Chimei LW700 on [[APF27]]/[[APF51]]) in standard/default Armadeus kernel image. [[APF28]] has a boot option to [[APF28Dev#Selecting_LCD|choose the LCD]].}}
  
* launch Linux kernel configuration:
+
Instructions to configure Linux kernel were moved to [[Talk:FrameBuffer]] and are only given as references or if you want to change the default LCD.
<pre>
+
 
  [armadeus]$ make linux-menuconfig
+
==Userland==
 +
* Framebuffer device can be accessed with ''/dev/fb0''.
 +
 
 +
* You can activate some tools from the Buildroot's menuconfig:  
 +
<pre class="host">
 +
  $ make menuconfig
 +
</pre>
 +
<pre class="config">
 +
Package Selection for the target
 +
    ...
 +
    Graphic libraries and applications (graphic/text)  --->
 +
    ...
 +
        [*] fbgrab
 +
        [*] fbtest
 +
        [*] fbv
 +
    ...
 +
        ---> Graphic libraries and applications (graphic/text) 
 +
            ---> fbset/fbv/fbgrab
 
</pre>
 
</pre>
* in "Char Devices" menu, activate ''"Virtual Terminal"'' and ''"Support for virtual terminal on console"''
 
* activate ''Device drivers -> Graphic support -> Support for Framebuffer -> Motorola iMX LCD support'' and choose your LCD in ''LCD Panel''
 
* "Console display driver support ->Frame buffer console
 
support" (deactivate VGA stuff & add some fonts), then choose 224 colour
 
boot logo
 
* recompile the kernel:
 
[armadeus]$ make linux
 
*, now to have console on serial port, you will have to add "console=ttySMX0,115200n8" to your boot parameters
 
* reflash kernel image on your board and enjoy (you should see Linux logo on screen at startup)!
 
  
=Userland=
+
{{Note | As explain on [[LinuxInstall]] page, to compile '''fbtest''', ''libnetpbm10-dev'' must be installed in your host system}}
If you have devfs activated, framebuffer device can be accessed with /dev/fb/0. Otherwise, you will need to create the device node with
+
 
<pre>
+
* For example to grab a snapshot of the framebuffer:
# mknod c 29 0
+
<pre class="apf">
 +
# fbgrab /tmp/snapshot.png
 
</pre>
 
</pre>
  
You can activate some test tools from the armadeus build process:  
+
* For example to display an image using standard image file formats PNG, GIF...:
<pre>
+
<pre class="apf">
$ make menuconfig -> packages -> fbset
+
# fbv myimage.png
 
</pre>
 
</pre>
 
You have several test tools on yahoo groups to play a little with the framebuffer.
 
  
 
==Tips==
 
==Tips==
* stop blinking cursor:
+
 
  # echo -e '\033[?17;0;0c' > /dev/tty0
+
* To stop blinking cursor:
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
# echo 0 > /sys/class/graphics/fbcon/cursor_blink
 +
</pre>
 +
also possible at boot time (with 3.x recent kernels):
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
BIOS> setenv extrabootargs vt.global_cursor_default=0
 +
</pre>
 +
* To make it blinking again:
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
# echo 1 > /sys/class/graphics/fbcon/cursor_blink
 +
</pre>
 +
* To grab a screenshot of a running Framebuffer application, use [[FBGrab]]
 +
* To enter in Framebuffer sleep mode:
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
# echo 1 > /sys/class/graphics/fb0/blank
 +
</pre>
 +
* To leave Framebuffer sleep power mode:
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
# echo 0 > /sys/class/graphics/fb0/blank
 +
</pre>
 +
* To set "sleep mode"/screensaver entering time (where X is a time in minute; 0 = never):
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
# echo -e '\033[9;X]' > /dev/tty1    (from serial console)
 +
</pre>
 +
or
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
# echo -e '\033[9;X]'    (from framebuffer console)
 +
</pre>
 +
or to set it at each boot, use ''/etc/inittab'':
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
tty1::sysinit:echo -e '\033[9;X]'
 +
</pre>
 +
 
 +
==Other usefull ESC sequences==
 +
* To (definitly) hide cursor:
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
  # echo -e '\033[?17;0;0c' > /dev/tty1    (from serial console)
 +
</pre>
 +
or
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
# echo -e '\033[?17;0;0c'    (from framebuffer console)
 +
</pre>
 +
* inverse screen on:
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
# echo -e '\033[?5h' > /dev/tty1
 +
</pre>
 +
* inverse screen off:
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
# echo -e '\033[?5l' > /dev/tty1
 +
</pre>
 +
* To erase the screen
 +
<pre class="apf">
 +
echo -e '\033[2J' > /dev/tty1 (from serial console)
 +
</pre>
  
 
=Links=
 
=Links=
 +
* [[Linux_Boot_Logo|How to change the Linux boot logo]]
 +
* [[i.MX6 Framebuffer Overlay|How to play with Framebuffer overlay on APF6]]
 
* [http://lxr.linux.no/linux/Documentation/VGA-softcursor.txt How to configure soft cursor]
 
* [http://lxr.linux.no/linux/Documentation/VGA-softcursor.txt How to configure soft cursor]
 
* http://linux-fbdev.sourceforge.net/
 
* http://linux-fbdev.sourceforge.net/
 +
* [http://www-curri.u-strasbg.fr/documentation/calcul/doc/ProPack/3SP1/docs/man_html/man4/console_codes.4.html Linux console ESC sequences]
 
* http://directfb.org/
 
* http://directfb.org/
* http://docs.blackfin.uclinux.org/doku.php?id=the_framebuffer_console
+
* [http://docs.blackfin.uclinux.org/doku.php?id=linux-kernel:drivers:fbcon  Blackfin wiki page on the subject]
  
 
[[Category:Graphical User Interface]]
 
[[Category:Graphical User Interface]]
 +
[[Category:Framebuffer]]

Revision as of 11:47, 20 April 2017

On this page you will find usefull informations to have a working Linux Framebuffer on your board.

Introduction

Linux Framebuffer is the lowest level (standardized) API for userspace programs to access video capabilities of the system you're running on. It allows you to directly "draw" your graphics in the video memory. Some higher level librairies can be put on top of the Framebuffer for more portability: SDL, Qt/Embedded, GTK, DirectFB, etc...

Kernel configuration

Note Note: Framebuffer is already configured (for Sharp LQ043 LCD on APF9328 and for Chimei LW700 on APF27/APF51) in standard/default Armadeus kernel image. APF28 has a boot option to choose the LCD.


Instructions to configure Linux kernel were moved to Talk:FrameBuffer and are only given as references or if you want to change the default LCD.

Userland

  • Framebuffer device can be accessed with /dev/fb0.
  • You can activate some tools from the Buildroot's menuconfig:
 $ make menuconfig
 Package Selection for the target
     ...
     Graphic libraries and applications (graphic/text)  ---> 
     ...
         [*] fbgrab
         [*] fbtest
         [*] fbv
     ...
        ---> Graphic libraries and applications (graphic/text)  
            ---> fbset/fbv/fbgrab
Note Note: As explain on LinuxInstall page, to compile fbtest, libnetpbm10-dev must be installed in your host system


  • For example to grab a snapshot of the framebuffer:
# fbgrab /tmp/snapshot.png
  • For example to display an image using standard image file formats PNG, GIF...:
# fbv myimage.png

Tips

  • To stop blinking cursor:
 # echo 0 > /sys/class/graphics/fbcon/cursor_blink

also possible at boot time (with 3.x recent kernels):

BIOS> setenv extrabootargs vt.global_cursor_default=0
  • To make it blinking again:
 # echo 1 > /sys/class/graphics/fbcon/cursor_blink
  • To grab a screenshot of a running Framebuffer application, use FBGrab
  • To enter in Framebuffer sleep mode:
 # echo 1 > /sys/class/graphics/fb0/blank
  • To leave Framebuffer sleep power mode:
 # echo 0 > /sys/class/graphics/fb0/blank
  • To set "sleep mode"/screensaver entering time (where X is a time in minute; 0 = never):
 # echo -e '\033[9;X]' > /dev/tty1    (from serial console)

or

 # echo -e '\033[9;X]'    (from framebuffer console)

or to set it at each boot, use /etc/inittab:

 tty1::sysinit:echo -e '\033[9;X]'

Other usefull ESC sequences

  • To (definitly) hide cursor:
 # echo -e '\033[?17;0;0c' > /dev/tty1    (from serial console)

or

 # echo -e '\033[?17;0;0c'    (from framebuffer console)
  • inverse screen on:
 # echo -e '\033[?5h' > /dev/tty1
  • inverse screen off:
 # echo -e '\033[?5l' > /dev/tty1
  • To erase the screen
echo -e '\033[2J' > /dev/tty1 (from serial console)

Links