Open-Source Candor

I just about fell out of my chair when I saw that, on April 11^th, XGI Technology (conceived by the spun-off and combined graphics expertise of SiS and Trident Microsystems in early 2003) announced the release of source code for all of its graphics chips' drivers. To understand my reaction, you need to first understand the long-standing feud the Linux community has had with standalone graphics chip market leaders ATI Technologies and Nvidia.

Citing the proprietary link between its graphics chips, its partners' IP and the information contained with its drivers, ATI comments that "we cannot legally release the complete source code to our driver. It is NOT open source. We do, however, include source code for the control panel and certain other public segments. We also actively assist developers in the Open Source community with their work, so if you absolutely require an open source driver for your graphics card, we can recommend using drivers from the DRI project, Utah-GLX project, or others."

Linux developers predictably paint a less enthusiastic picture of ATI's assistance than ATI itself touts. Nvidia does provide a source code-based driver, but it's a quarter-step; it only supports the 2-D acceleration capabilities of the company's GPUs. Full-featured drivers for both GPUs and core logic chipsets are only offered in executable form. What's behind XGI's actions, which were echoed one day later by VIA Technologies' release of open source drivers for the S3 Graphics UniChrome, VIA ProSavage and ProSavage DDR chips? Cynical observers might point out the companies' miniscule market shares and trailing-edge technology compared to competitors, and claim that they have little to lose and much to potentially gain from their openness.

A cryptic response from a Via representative didn't clear up the waters much; "The decision to release the source code packages publicly was made to provide Linux developers with the most open and comprehensive mode of being able to autonomously develop applications, software and product based on and supporting VIA hardware." Corporate nebulous double-speak….blah, blah, blah…..see, gentle readers, what I deal with on a daily basis? Regardless of the reason, it's the latest step in a long history of open-source community embrace exhibited by Via, an openness which XGI has apparently decided to mimic. Among other things, the result has been an enthusiastic adoption of Via's Mini-ITX platform by the hobbyist community. Profitable as measured in dollars and cents? Via will have to answer that one. Profitable as measured in brain-share? Most definitely.