Intel has published the initial release of a new Linux kernel driver, Xe, for use with integrated GPUs and discrete graphics cards based on the Intel Xe architecture used in integrated graphics since Tiger Lake processors and select Arc family graphics cards. The purpose of the driver development is to provide a framework for supporting new chips, not tied to code to support older platforms. More active sharing of the Xe code with other components of the DRM (Direct Rendering Manager) subsystem is also announced.
The code was initially designed to support various hardware architectures and is available for testing on x86 and ARM systems. The implementation is currently being considered as an experimental option for discussion by developers, not yet ready for integration into the main part of the kernel. Work on the old i915 drivers does not stop and its maintenance will continue. It is planned to bring the new Xe driver to readiness during 2023.
In the new driver, most of the code for interacting with screens is borrowed from the i915 driver, and in the future, the developers plan to ensure the sharing of this code in both drivers in order to avoid duplication of typical components (now such code is simply rebuilt twice, but alternative options for sharing code are being discussed ). The memory model in Xe is very close to the implementation of the i915 memory model, and the implementation of execbuf is very similar to execbuf3 from the i915 code.
To provide support for the OpenGL and Vulkan graphics APIs, in addition to the driver for the Linux kernel, the project has also prepared changes for the operation of the Iris and ANV Mesa drivers through the Xe module. In its current form, the Xe-Mesa link is mature enough to run GNOME, browsers, and games based on OpenGL and Vulkan, but so far there have been some issues and bugs, including crashes. Also, no performance optimization work has been done yet.
Source: opennet.ru