Ubuntu Boot Intros
category: general [glöplog]
As mentioned deep, deep in another thread, the Ubuntu boot process is very I/O intensive. During this time, the CPU is almost completely idle as the system loads. From the second the kernel is loaded, there is roughly 15-30 seconds of loading until GDM (the login screen) starts on the average system. If you make GDM the last thing loaded (so that there is no background loading of services) it could be 30-45 seconds.
At Sundown 2006, Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu Founder came to talk to us about this, and presented this idea: Why not fill that unused CPU time with something pretty to look at? Obviously, the people most famous for CPU intensive, low I/O programs that look pretty are... The Demoscene!
The idea is that you won't have access to X11, just the framebuffer. Currently, the program "usplash" runs during boot displaying a loading bar with a graphic. Presumably, this runs in 565 or something, at the resolution your desktop works at. So, you have a small hurdle in terms of graphics to make it look good in 16-bit.
Also, there is unlikely to be sound when the program starts, possibly being initialised later in the boot process, and there's always the problem that each system takes a different amount of time to boot, so you'd have to take a control reading first run to find out how much of the demo to play/how quick to play it etc.
What could you put there? Well, think about it - you've got spinning cubes, you've got a whole host of demo effects that would look great during loading, and I'm sure the Ubuntu devs can add a preference panel to the System Administration menu to choose which demo/intro to load.
And finally, there's the matter of "why?" - well, I'm sure there'll be a community around it, people out-doing each other to get on more systems, and I'm sure the devs can be persuaded to put "the best entry" from a democompo in the default install etc.
So, what do people think? Am I just being an Ubuntu zealot, or is this an interesting new category? I look forwards to hearing from you all =)
At Sundown 2006, Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu Founder came to talk to us about this, and presented this idea: Why not fill that unused CPU time with something pretty to look at? Obviously, the people most famous for CPU intensive, low I/O programs that look pretty are... The Demoscene!
The idea is that you won't have access to X11, just the framebuffer. Currently, the program "usplash" runs during boot displaying a loading bar with a graphic. Presumably, this runs in 565 or something, at the resolution your desktop works at. So, you have a small hurdle in terms of graphics to make it look good in 16-bit.
Also, there is unlikely to be sound when the program starts, possibly being initialised later in the boot process, and there's always the problem that each system takes a different amount of time to boot, so you'd have to take a control reading first run to find out how much of the demo to play/how quick to play it etc.
What could you put there? Well, think about it - you've got spinning cubes, you've got a whole host of demo effects that would look great during loading, and I'm sure the Ubuntu devs can add a preference panel to the System Administration menu to choose which demo/intro to load.
And finally, there's the matter of "why?" - well, I'm sure there'll be a community around it, people out-doing each other to get on more systems, and I'm sure the devs can be persuaded to put "the best entry" from a democompo in the default install etc.
So, what do people think? Am I just being an Ubuntu zealot, or is this an interesting new category? I look forwards to hearing from you all =)
As you said this was discussed in another thread, created after Sundown.
I'm not a linux expert and I may be misinterpreting this, but aren't you saying that they will make the boot time SLOWER (~15s) just to see some (simple? repetitive? ) animation? I presume they won't be much more complex than the current 256B intros we have for windows.
And the linux default booting sequence (that cool check list) is one of the things I like most in linux! Why taking it :D
Quote:
roughly 15-30 seconds of loading until GDM starts
Quote:
you make GDM the last thing loaded it could be 30-45 seconds
I'm not a linux expert and I may be misinterpreting this, but aren't you saying that they will make the boot time SLOWER (~15s) just to see some (simple? repetitive? ) animation? I presume they won't be much more complex than the current 256B intros we have for windows.
And the linux default booting sequence (that cool check list) is one of the things I like most in linux! Why taking it :D
@xernobyl: hit ALT-F2. Or at least, it used to work that way.
Hehm, and on my laptop it takes about 60 seconds to reach the GDM prompt. Grrrr....
Hehm, and on my laptop it takes about 60 seconds to reach the GDM prompt. Grrrr....
You just make a library so that if someone hits Esc, it auto-runs "/etc/init.d/gdm start" so you're in straight away.
You wouldn't have to see the same demo each time, it could be from a random collection. Plus, if it's good, you might actually WANT to see it when booting, in the same way you have a wallpaper.
And it wouldn't have to be 256B, I'd say anything under 64K would be fairly easy to do I would have thought.
Of course, the fast simple Linux loader is nice, but sometimes, it's nice to see something pretty while it loads =)
You wouldn't have to see the same demo each time, it could be from a random collection. Plus, if it's good, you might actually WANT to see it when booting, in the same way you have a wallpaper.
And it wouldn't have to be 256B, I'd say anything under 64K would be fairly easy to do I would have thought.
Of course, the fast simple Linux loader is nice, but sometimes, it's nice to see something pretty while it loads =)
xerno: no, they're saying the graphics environment will be loaded last so that there is more time while other non graphic stuff loads for the intro to run.
and wasnt there an own topic for this? why are you opening another? O_o
There was, at http://pouet.net/topic.php?which=3365 - this one actually asks a question and is less off-topic ;)
Which, by the way, a boot-time vis: http://dev.osso.nl/herman/images/bootcharts/edgy-20061224-1.png
Which, by the way, a boot-time vis: http://dev.osso.nl/herman/images/bootcharts/edgy-20061224-1.png
While I can't see anything wrong with filling idle time, this completely and utterly scares the living shit out of me. No matter what you do, you're actually slowing down the process of the user being able to do what he actually switched the machine on for in the first place.
On top of that, the feature creep would be slow, but horrible -a cute fr-08 loading bar with muzak is one thing, but having to sit through fr-08 to boot (pun not intended) is just silly. Consumers like next-to-no loading times.
On top of that, the feature creep would be slow, but horrible -a cute fr-08 loading bar with muzak is one thing, but having to sit through fr-08 to boot (pun not intended) is just silly. Consumers like next-to-no loading times.
And the fr-08 loader bar sort of thing is what they're probably looking for. I'm kinda expecting a 4k-type thing with Penguins everywhere.
rotating penguins engaged in group sex activities!
If that can please Sir Mark Shuttleworth, let's code a communist flag in 3D with little (LOL)MAOs, Lenins, Karl Marx and Pinguins spinning around.
Also, let's send the source code to Sir Linus Torvald to make sure everybody is happy.
Then let's all have a good meal at Mac Donald's afterward while we tell each others funny kernel stories :(
Also, let's send the source code to Sir Linus Torvald to make sure everybody is happy.
Then let's all have a good meal at Mac Donald's afterward while we tell each others funny kernel stories :(
what's the status for this in the end ? i'm still curious about it
keops: shut up. You worked for EA, traitor.