Arch Linux Enables Mesa Floating Point Textures

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Arch Linux Enables Mesa Floating Point Textures

The rolling-release Arch Linux distribution has just enabled floating point textures for Mesa. This was the hotly-debated feature for Mesa that provides OpenGL floating point textures and render targets, but is disabled by default since its protected by patents in the United States and elsewhere. Arch Linux users when building new versions of Mesa will receive this support irrespective of their physical location...

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=OTUxMg

[remm]

That's still big progress though.

[oibaf]

I also enable floating point and S3TC textures in my Ubuntu PPA.

[FireBurn]

The distro is based in Canada - according to Distrowatch anyway

Does any one know if they could be subject to law suits?

[droidhacker]

The distro is based in Canada - according to Distrowatch anyway

Does any one know if they could be subject to law suits?

Yep. Sure could be.

[curaga]

@oibaf

Seriously, stop spamming in other threads than yours.

[markg85]

You didn't even mention me! Oh well... People please do note that this is currently only enabled in the git version!! This flag is not yet (?) added to the build version since 7.11 isn't out yet so I would keep some caution in mind.

It's a nice start though!

[calim]

Hey, 30 fps isn't a slideshow, at least not for my eyes.
I admit that's with a GTX470 with cheated clocks though.

[yoshi314]

arch is one of distros that don't really care about patents, and sometimes about software licenses.

i remember the licence issue problem with faac 2.5 (gpl incompatibility). gentoo refused to package it, arch did. licence was finally fixed around 2.7 or so.

[yesterday]

Well Arch is volunteer run and and pretty much a hobby distro.

The chances of them being targeted by a law suit are pretty minimal. There is no benefit gained in suing Arch Linux