Introduction to Graphics Adapter Device Drivers

This chapter briefly describes the design and intent of the Graphics Adapter Device Driver (GRADD) model. Details on specific components of the GRADD model are located in GRADD Model Components.

The GRADD model is divided into several components that work together on the same desktop to support a variety of operating system services for OS/2 Warp. GRADD components include the following:
 * Video Manager and the Video Manager Interface (VMI) protocol
 * Translation layers, one for each graphics engine in OS/2 Warp
 * SOFTDRAW for default software simulation of graphics functions
 * GRADDs and the Graphics Hardware Interface (GHI) protocol

GRADDs support all the graphics subsystems designed to run on OS/2 Warp. A GRADD contains only the hardware-dependent code required for graphic functions that are common among different graphics subsystems. These common functions are designed to act as a small set of building blocks for the larger, more complex operations that are typically required by a graphics engine. The translation layers that exist between the graphics subsystems and the components of the GRADD model provide access to the GRADD building blocks. The transition layer converts the complex function calls issued by a graphics subsystem into the protocol required by the GRADD model.

By reducing the set of mandatory functions required within a GRADD, this model makes video display driver development easier and faster than it was for OS/2 Releases 2.1 and earlier. The only mandatory GHI functions in the GRADD architecture are initialization, return capabilities, return mode information, mode setting, and palette setting (if using 256 colors).

Graphics adapter support for direct access to video memory renders all other GHI functions optional. The GRADD model uses a software library called SOFTDRAW to simulate drawing functions (such as drawing bit maps and lines, and handling pointer support). Software simulation allows developers to write a driver in incremental stages. Once the mandatory functions are written, a developer can use SOFTDRAW for optional functions that have not been written to use the accelerated features of the hardware. When an optional function is handled by a GRADD, the results can be compared with the results of the software simulation. This comparison gives developers a way to ensure that their GRADDs are producing correct output.

Most developers who write device drivers based on the GRADD model will be required to create only the hardware-specific code confined exclusively to the GRADD module. In the GRADD model, components that do not need direct access to the hardware are not located in the GRADD. This modular design makes it possible for developers to write new device drivers easily and quickly.

OS/2 Version Compatibility Considerations
This version of the GRADD Reference was written to support OS/2 Warp on the Intel hardware platform.