I think there is virtually no chance of the specs being generally released
for the 2d engine. This is because the 2d interfaces are largely
constructed of microcode on the graphics chip’s primary core CPU, which is
Kyro’s strength and its weakness. It is also considered _fundamental_ IP by
IMG, and I agree with that actually. It just isn’t feasable to come up with
this stuff yourself, so you may be stuck in Nvidia land at the moment.

However there is a better chance that driver source will be released under
GPL, with the microcode as binary header files, or in a binary kernel
module. When I left IMG the details of how we could release a driver stack
without giving away IP was being worked out.

The sad fact is that IMG do not have the manpower available to Nvidia and
the like. Priority is given to Windows based stuff, for the obvious
reasons: IMG have to be able to compete in that arena. I was the first
person at the company to do any Linux work at all, and I was only able to do
that because I was a senior engineer and I fancied doing it, so I talked the
management into it. The willingness is there but the manpower isn’t. The
best thing is for the Linux community to put pressure on IMG/Guillemot to
get thinks moving.

Basically, don’t hold your breath!

Cheers
Jim