Graphics » History » Revision 16
Revision 15 (doak complex, 01/23/2020 08:31 PM) → Revision 16/46 (doak complex, 01/24/2020 12:25 AM)
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 _llvmpipe_ as software renderer TODO: The following enables it globally. Add information about scripts to switch only "non-system"-components (SurfaceFlinger, bootanimation, system server (_SurfaceFlinger_, _bootanimation_, _system server_ ?) to llvmpipe. _llvmpipe_. TODO: Also add information which files are used for this (@/etc/libGLES_android@ and other files within @/data/data/<app>@). Refer to "this mail":https://lists.osuosl.org/pipermail/replicant/2019-August/002054.html. 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 _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, _llvmpipe_, although crashes should be less frequent. Usually, the screen stays black if an app does not work with llvmpipe. _llvmpipe_. In case the screen compositor (SurfaceFlinger) (_SurfaceFlinger_) is used with llvmpipe, _llvmpipe_, this could have an effect to other apps. For instance with Gallery _Gallery_ and Orbot _Orbot_ it happens, that some GUI elements are visible, while the main screen is black. The GUI of Simple _Simple File Manager 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) (_Panorama mode_) will crash the Camera _Camera_ app. * Video playback in the browser does not work. (issue #1533) * Screenshots do not work. (see [[Screenshots]] for a workaround) * Selecting wallpapers from storage does not work. * Screen content is sometimes shortly visible before unlocking. (issue #1275, happens with llvmpipe _llvmpipe_ as well) * Previews of the windows in the tasks switcher are missing. * Switching between apps, apps and the launcher or different views inside an app is sometimes slow and the device may seem 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 _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.