Graphics » History » Revision 14
Revision 13 (doak complex, 01/23/2020 08:03 PM) → Revision 14/46 (doak complex, 01/23/2020 08:10 PM)
h1. Graphics By default, _Replicant_ Replicant devices use the _Android Android software renderer_, renderer, which relies on the CPU for graphics rendering. Using the dedicated graphics processor (GPU) currently requires non-free software on all of the supported devices. As free-software replacements are not yet available, the GPU cannot be used with _Replicant_ Replicant for the moment (see [[GraphicsResearch]]). The software rendering is the reason why _Replicant_ Replicant devices appear slow at times and is responsible for a lot of crashes that can happen during usage. _llvmpipe_ llvmpipe has more complete EGL support than the _Android Android software renderer_ renderer (see #705), so more apps work with it, like _Firefox_-based Firefox-based browsers or more recent _webviews_ webviews (see #1780). Unfortunately, _llvmpipe_ llvmpipe is still too slow to be the default renderer, but it is possible to switch back and forth between _llvmpipe_ llvmpipe and the _Android Android software renderer_. renderer. h2. Enabling _llvmpipe_ as software renderer Make sure [[ADB]] is running as root and the system partition [[ADB#Modifying-the-system-partition|is mounted writable]]. The following command switches the software renderer implementation: <pre> adb shell "grep -q "ro.libagl=1" /system/build.prop && sed "s/ro.libagl=1/ro.libagl=0/" -i /system/build.prop || sed "s/ro.libagl=0/ro.libagl=1/" -i /system/build.prop" </pre> Then reboot the device. _llvmpipe_ should now be enabled. To switch back to the default _Android Android software renderer_, renderer, run the above command again and reboot the device. There are also issues with certain apps when using _llvmpipe_, although crashes should be less frequent. Usually, the screen stays black if an app does not work with _llvmpipe_. In case the screen compositor (_SurfaceFlinger_) is used with _llvmpipe_, this could have an effect to other apps. For instance with _Gallery_ and _Orbot_ it happens, that some GUI elements are visible, while the main screen is black. The GUI of _Simple File Manager_ works as long as no image is viewed in fullscreen. h2. Known issues with the _Android Android software renderer_ renderer * Selecting the third option besides photo and video (_Panorama mode_) will crash the _Camera_ camera app. This is the panorama mode. * Video playback in the browser does not work. work (issue #1533) * Screenshots do not work. work (see [[Screenshots]] for a workaround) * Selecting wallpapers from storage does not work. work * Screen content is sometimes shortly visible before unlocking. unlocking (issue #1275, happens with _llvmpipe_ llvmpipe as well) * Previews of the windows in the tasks switcher are missing. missing * Switching between apps, apps and the launcher or different views inside an app is sometimes slow and the device may seem unresponsive. unresponsive * There are issues with using folders with the _Trebuchet launcher_. Trebuchet launcher (issue #1790, happens with _llvmpipe_ llvmpipe as well) h3. Popular apps from _F-Droid_ F-Droid that do not work * All _Firefox_-based all Firefox-based browsers like "_IceCatMobile_":https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=icecat&fdid=org.gnu.icecat "IceCatMobile":https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=icecat&fdid=org.gnu.icecat and _Orfox_ Orfox * "_Document Viewer_":https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=document+viewer&fdid=org.sufficientlysecure.viewer "Document Viewer":https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=document+viewer&fdid=org.sufficientlysecure.viewer * "_LibreOffice Viewer_":https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=libreoffice&fdid=org.documentfoundation.libreoffice "LibreOffice Viewer":https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=libreoffice&fdid=org.documentfoundation.libreoffice * "_RedReader_":https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=redreader&fdid=org.quantumbadger.redreader "RedReader":https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=redreader&fdid=org.quantumbadger.redreader cannot display images ("upstream bug":https://github.com/QuantumBadger/RedReader/issues/279) h2. See also * There is a page about [[GraphicsResearch]] that gather information to improve graphics support. support