Peter Dolding wrote:
This would kinda make logical sence.
Alsa-lib plugin system in theory should be able to take any kind sound output under it. Simplify development of all applications on top of it. If alsa was cross platform why would you use something else as a middle body wrapper when you port.
Windows and Mac support could be done as plugins.
Or is there something that is in the alsa-lib that is a problem?
Its all about reducing distance between application and hardware and reduce amount of coding.
I'd rather see pulseaudio go fully cross platform. It's got some older windows ports but if pulse were to get a push in the right direction for windows and OSX then this lets alsa get on with the job of interfacing with the audio on linux (that's what the L stands for after all), and let higher level applications work with a more appropriate system with more appropriate interfaces for practical use.
Ok sorry to say the idea of let sound server do it is the same as saying we will put up for every with xlib being single threaded and have the toolkits above it deal with it. Instead of taking on the problem. xcb is taking on the problem in the X11 stack of libs. Except its many times worse.
Pulseaudio and all other Sound Servers since its a extra service adds a extra point of complete sound failure to the Linux sound stack or what ever stack they happen to be operating on top of. It more of a hack around the limitations of the alsa framework. ALSA was really designed to avoid the need of such extras. The existence of Pulseaudio is really sign of failure. Reason Sound Servers existed at first due to the failures of OSS to provide a multi application sound support. ALSA was really designed to do away for the need of sound servers completely. Now alsa is failing to provide per application sound control and a sound server is back for another pass.
Now why are not alsa interfaces practical to use. It is ment to be "Advanced Linux Sound Architecture" The complete Architecture. Not something you have to tack bits onto because its not functional or hard to use. Have we got to the point like xlib where the complete alsa-lib has to be reworked for usability.
Now if you want to keep on thinking along that line has ALSA got to the point it should be dumped like OSS has been dumped because of its limitations?
alsa-lib to freebsd or somewhere with oss most likely could be done really quickly since we already have a oss output option.
Its also like saying the Linux Standard Base is only used by Linux. Its not its also used by a few non Linux's. Driver section of ALSA most likely will always be Linux only. But the wrapper layer that hides the hardware from the software really does not have to stay Linux only. Alsa is going up to be part of the Linux Standard Base its about time we all start looking at how it can be made most useful. Provide all the features it should and work for stability.
Has anyone one attempted it or not. I guess not.
Peter Dolding