
328 Embedded Linux System Design and Development
9.6 Windowing Environments, Toolkits, and Applications
Applications written directly over the frame buffer interface do exist, but only
simple ones. As the GUI gets complex with more shapes and controls, there
is a need for abstraction. Libraries/API layers that make GUI programming
simple and easy have been in existence on desktop platforms for many years.
These libraries abstract the driver interface over simpler APIs that make sense
for a graphics application programmer. These libraries are essential in all
windowing environments. A generic windowing environment consists of:
Table 9.3 SFB Hardware Details ...