> On 16 Jun, linker@nightshade.ml.org wrote:
> > Wouldn't it be better for all if apps:
> >
> > i = detect_MMMX();
> > if !i then usenormalstuff=1;
> > else usemmx=1;
> >
> > then had code for both cases???
>
> no....
Definitely no.
> If you can assume the MMX functions are there then EACH application
> doesn't have to emulate all of the MMX stuff itself if it doesn't have
> the REAL hardware.
>
> This should be treated EXACTLY like the Floating Point hardware... at
> least in my opinion.
100% agreement.
It's just like OpenGL: you can assume it's all there, and what
can be accelerated, will be accelerated.
But I think you can do your MMX emulation in userspace, with a
SIGILL handler, and maybe some libc mods.
BTW: why isn't the FPU emulation in userspace? Surely it's not
for performance reasons!
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