Linux framebuffer

The Linux framebuffer (fbdev) is a graphic hardware-independent abstraction layer to show graphics on a computer monitor, typically on the console. The word framebuffer means a part of video memory containing a current video frame, and the Linux framebuffer means “access method to the framebuffer under the Linux kernel”, without relying on system-specific libraries such as SVGALib or another user space software.

Applications

There are three applications of the Linux framebuffer.

The last item includes Linux programs such as MPlayer, links2, Netsurf, fbida, fim and libraries such as GGI, SDL, GTK+ and Qt can use the framebuffer directly. This is particularly popular in embedded systems.