Notices

I'm just solving that. It is using SDL, so it can be any SDL flickering issue (e.g. it can be better if using double buffering). Very same code (with same flags) compiled for Ubuntu laptop is not flickering at all.

Ooh! So you have a good theory for the screen twitching like it does?

Joy!

I have not figured out what is causing flickering on SDL. Using delay() it is possible to see actual screen longer, but it is still flickering. It is also mystery why it stops flickering by itself sometimes.

I have contacted to upstream if they have any ideas.

Mean while I solved X11 keyboard-focus problem, so syncterm is usable.

If you want SSH-support: Install 'libcrypt' from extras-devel
(fetch sourcecode with apt-get source libcrypt)

Load syncterm binary from: http://cc.oulu.fi/~rantalai/syncterm.bin
(2.6M)

Set execution permission and start with:
X11 interface: fullscreen, but only 640x400px used, keyboard works, no mouse (I think it behaves same way on Ubuntu)

SDL-test. Not yet usable.
Screen flickers. Sometimes flickering stops. Keyboard focus works. Mouse works (but it is hard to use because click must happen inside one 'flicker'-cycle).

Check Maemo-specific modifications from:
http://gitorious.org/syncterm-aapo/syncterm-aapo

For the Donation part, here's what I would consider a finished request:

- Syncterm compiled for the N900, with working keyboard, no flicker at startup, and full screen support. By using different strings at startup, I was able to get the original version from the N8X0 series running with keyboard support. I was also able to get around the flickering by tapping the crap out of the screen for around 10 seconds. I was never able to get it to truly go "full screen" on the N900. It would center, but not stretch out to fill the screen.

- Packaged .deb installer with menu shortcut, and uploaded to one of the repos. Basically, make it as easy as possible for someone to get syncterm, and install it. Without needing to enter x-term.

Checklist:

- repo based package, with menu shortcut
- includes all dependencies needed to allow full keyboard use, and true full screen support.
- Doesn't flicker on startup

My offer for $100 still stands. I sorta figured that the idea was dead, but I think I need to start checking this topic again! Good luck devs! :-)

I think syncterm doesn't have 'truly fullscreen' at all. Even running on Ubuntu there are black marginals.

When running with X-interface screen is not even centered. So running with maemo-statusbar doesn't shrink effective application size.


Flickering is indeed very bad issue. It happens only with SDL-interface. If mouse-support is not needed then SDL might not needed.

Installation from repository and menu shortcuts are coming when I know which interface to use. (Or package can put two icons to the menu.)

Yeah. There is no font and setting for a 800x480 screen.

I do have the perfect custom font for such a thing if it's possible to insert it inside Syncterm though.

Any progress on this?

If you have extras-testing enabled, you can install syncterm via graphical installer. It is under 'network' and package name is 'syncterm'.
It installs libcrypt dependency so you can use syncterm with SSH too.

After installing you will have menu shortcut. Shortcut points to /usr/bin/syncterm, which is starting script, and starts syncterm from /opt/ with parameter -iX.

It is not fullscreen, because fullscreen doesn't add any usable screen area.

If you want test other parameters, use e.g. /opt/syncterm/syncterm -iS

Thanks for your work on syncterm Aapo!

I have one request. Can you please optify libcrypt? It eats a lot of precious rootfs space.

Thank.

Joy!

I only have an N800 though.

Is it possible to just grab the executable file and see if it works on my tablet as well?