Scheduled Maintenance: We are aware of an issue with Google, AOL, and Yahoo services as email providers which are blocking new registrations. We are trying to fix the issue and we have several internal and external support tickets in process to resolve the issue. Please see: viewtopic.php?t=158230

 

 

 

How can I build my own driver for a Graphics Board?

Graphical Environments, Managers, Multimedia & Desktop questions.
Post Reply
Message
Author
debcub
Posts: 61
Joined: 2017-01-18 16:12
Been thanked: 1 time

How can I build my own driver for a Graphics Board?

#1 Post by debcub »

Hi,

I am using Debian 9 Stretch and I intend to buy a graphics board the manufacturer, Gaomon, does not provide drivers for like Wacom does for its own products. Is it possible to build one's own Linux driver? If one is a completely driver-building newbie like me?

Thanks,

debcub

P.S. Before the question arises: the Gaomon M106K is about the same price as a Wacom Intuos Draw S CTL-490DW-S, but Gaomon's GT is about double the size as Wacom's and has more advanced features, more professional.

Bulkley
Posts: 6383
Joined: 2006-02-11 18:35
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 39 times

Re: How can I build my own driver for a Graphics Board?

#2 Post by Bulkley »

If I was so inclined I'd start by modifying one of the manufacturer's other drivers. You might be able to modify a windows driver.

Personally, I wouldn't touch this one. I'd make a list of desirable cards and check each on-line for Linux compatibility.

User avatar
sunrat
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6412
Joined: 2006-08-29 09:12
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Has thanked: 116 times
Been thanked: 462 times

Re: How can I build my own driver for a Graphics Board?

#3 Post by sunrat »

Looks like there's work happening on Github for this:
https://github.com/DIGImend/digimend-ke ... rs/pull/85
“ computer users can be divided into 2 categories:
Those who have lost data
...and those who have not lost data YET ”
Remember to BACKUP!

User avatar
GarryRicketson
Posts: 5644
Joined: 2015-01-20 22:16
Location: Durango, Mexico

Re: How can I build my own driver for a Graphics Board?

#4 Post by GarryRicketson »

Is it possible to build one's own Linux driver? If one is a completely driver-building newbie like me?
Yes it is possible,
“Do you pine for the nice days of Minix-1.1, when men were men and wrote their own device drivers?” Linus Torvalds
I am using Minix 3 , now, but sometimes this still is a problem, and some times we need to write our own,... So yes it is possible,

How can I build my own Linux driver ?
One of many "educational" results,
http://freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/drivers_linux/
================
Go to school, and learn how to use the search engines, or go to a library and start studying all the information you can find. That is how.
Or, find a very skilled programmer, that also has experience with reverse engineering, and pay them to build/write your driver.
If one is a completely driver-building newbie like me?
That all depends on how much you study, and practice, the best way (in my opinion), start out with some simple drivers, even if there are all ready existing ones, you won't be a "completely driver-building newbie like me?" very long, but it is not something you will learn over night, it depends also on how fast you learn things,.... any way I have some more important things to do now,
good luck and have fun.

debcub
Posts: 61
Joined: 2017-01-18 16:12
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: How can I build my own driver for a Graphics Board?

#5 Post by debcub »

sunrat wrote:Looks like there's work happening on Github for this:
https://github.com/DIGImend/digimend-ke ... rs/pull/85
Thank you for this! Looks like I have to learn C first to incorporate this added support into an existing driver?

And thank you all for your comments so far.

User avatar
None1975
df -h | participant
df -h | participant
Posts: 1389
Joined: 2015-11-29 18:23
Location: Russia, Kaliningrad
Has thanked: 45 times
Been thanked: 66 times

Re: How can I build my own driver for a Graphics Board?

#6 Post by None1975 »

debcub wrote:Hi,I am using Debian 9 Stretch and I intend to buy a graphics board the manufacturer, Gaomon, does not provide drivers for like Wacom does for its own products. Is it possible to build one's own Linux driver? If one is a completely driver-building newbie like me?
If possible, purchase such equipment that is supported by open source drivers.
OS: Debian 12.4 Bookworm / DE: Enlightenment
Debian Wiki | DontBreakDebian, My config files on github

User avatar
sunrat
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6412
Joined: 2006-08-29 09:12
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Has thanked: 116 times
Been thanked: 462 times

Re: How can I build my own driver for a Graphics Board?

#7 Post by sunrat »

debcub wrote:Thank you for this! Looks like I have to learn C first to incorporate this added support into an existing driver?
You don't have to learn anything except how to download a zip file from Github and build it. Preferably use dkms so it gets rebuilt if you install a different kernel, but otherwise just the standard make and makeinstall method.
“ computer users can be divided into 2 categories:
Those who have lost data
...and those who have not lost data YET ”
Remember to BACKUP!

debcub
Posts: 61
Joined: 2017-01-18 16:12
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: How can I build my own driver for a Graphics Board?

#8 Post by debcub »

I will buy a small Wacom Intuous to learn the GT basics first. I think I could not manage to tinker with drivers at the same time :(
Later I can return to Gaomon; maybe there are even better drivers then.

Thank your all here again for your tips :)

Post Reply