Debian GGI Packages

Introduction

GGI packages for Debian are available for the most important core libraries already and the full set will be available soon.

Usage

In order to get visible output from a GGI program you must install a display-target.

There are many choices, depending on the type of system that you use and your personal preferences, please install one or more of:

- libggi-target-x           when you mainly use X for graphics
- libggi-target-fbdev       when you want graphics on your console
- libggi-target-svga        when you have a SVGA card installed
- libggi-target-vcsa        for text and emulated graphics on a console
- libggi-target-terminfo    for text and emulated graphics with ncurses

- libggi-target-aa          emulate graphics with ASCII art
- libggi-target-monotext    a similar emulation of graphics

- libggi-target-glide       for use on voodoo graphics cards
- libggi-target-lcd823      use with a certain lcd display controller
- libggi-target-kgi         when you have the kgi module in your kernel

- libggi-target-emu         emulate various colour depths for other targets

The libggi base package contains some more standard targets, allowing the forwarding of graphics output and user input via network connections, splitting, combining, filtering and otherwise controlling the performance of the highly versatile, interactive graphics environment.

Refer to the man pages and this documentation to find available options and settings for libggi and display targets.

There are many options, but as you will typically use only a small number (eg. 1) of displays, it's not so hard.

Feedback

Your input is highly welcome! Please send questions, ideas and requests to the maintainer of the core GGI packages for Debian.

Development

The GGI project is known for the consequent development by its group of respected, highly motivated maintainers. Personally, i am very happy to be able to work on the integration of two great projects, like Debian and GGI. Visible short term goals that i have are communications between the projects, upstream and Debian work on svga4libggi and the package layout for GGI.

A group of maintainers, working together as 'the GGI-Spot' would by ideal.

Packaging

The modular nature of GGI makes it easy to have some dozen packages in no time. Libggi for instance, provides some distinct packages of display targets. Besides some technical issues, this is done to minimize the footprint of installations.

Remember that GGI stands for General Graphics Interface, and it is as such equally well suited for embedded projects with small displays as well as workstations that display graphics generated on some remote host.

The Debian operating system is available for extremely different computer systems. To match any possible demand from small footprint to ease of use is virtually impossible.

Proper definition of requirements helps the layout of the packaging, keeps dependencies managable and the number of meta packages reasonable.

Coordination

If you are Debian maintainer with ggi related packages, feel free to contact me, Martin Albert.

2008/05/04 23:14:52