1<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ANSI_X3.4-1968"><title>Preface</title><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets V1.78.1"><link rel="home" href="index.html" title="Writing an ALSA Driver"><link rel="up" href="index.html" title="Writing an ALSA Driver"><link rel="prev" href="index.html" title="Writing an ALSA Driver"><link rel="next" href="file-tree.html" title="Chapter&#160;1.&#160;File Tree Structure"></head><body bgcolor="white" text="black" link="#0000FF" vlink="#840084" alink="#0000FF"><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="3" align="center">Preface</th></tr><tr><td width="20%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="index.html">Prev</a>&#160;</td><th width="60%" align="center">&#160;</th><td width="20%" align="right">&#160;<a accesskey="n" href="file-tree.html">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr></div><div class="preface"><div class="titlepage"><div><div><h1 class="title"><a name="preface"></a>Preface</h1></div></div></div><p>
2      This document describes how to write an
3      <a class="ulink" href="http://www.alsa-project.org/" target="_top"><em class="citetitle">
4      ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture)</em></a>
5      driver. The document focuses mainly on PCI soundcards.
6      In the case of other device types, the API might
7      be different, too. However, at least the ALSA kernel API is
8      consistent, and therefore it would be still a bit help for
9      writing them.
10    </p><p>
11    This document targets people who already have enough
12    C language skills and have basic linux kernel programming
13    knowledge.  This document doesn't explain the general
14    topic of linux kernel coding and doesn't cover low-level
15    driver implementation details. It only describes
16    the standard way to write a PCI sound driver on ALSA.
17    </p><p>
18      If you are already familiar with the older ALSA ver.0.5.x API, you
19    can check the drivers such as <code class="filename">sound/pci/es1938.c</code> or
20    <code class="filename">sound/pci/maestro3.c</code> which have also almost the same
21    code-base in the ALSA 0.5.x tree, so you can compare the differences.
22    </p><p>
23      This document is still a draft version. Any feedback and
24    corrections, please!!
25    </p></div><div class="navfooter"><hr><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="index.html">Prev</a>&#160;</td><td width="20%" align="center">&#160;</td><td width="40%" align="right">&#160;<a accesskey="n" href="file-tree.html">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">Writing an ALSA Driver&#160;</td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top">&#160;Chapter&#160;1.&#160;File Tree Structure</td></tr></table></div></body></html>
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