It seems that AMD has set its sights on the Linux desktop, since recently its team of engineers They made knownr the announcement of development de its own composite server, called ACS (AMDGPU Composition Stack), based on Weston, the reference composite server of the Wayland project.
On the GitLab Wiki page, they present ACS as a fork of Weston that integrates advanced functionalities and promises to maintain a biennial synchronization with the main Weston code. This project, whose code is available under the MIT license, is primarily intended to serve as a platform for experimentation and development.
What is ACS (AMDGPU Composition Stack)?
In essence, ACS is positioned as the reference composite server with the most comprehensive support for AMD hardware, Besides that will play a key role in the development of advanced technologies graphics and visualization solutions for the company. Beyond its internal use, ACS will be leveraged as an open platform to support AMD-specific commercial products and applications. This includes tools such as performance optimizers, media players, 3D gaming and profiling solutions, reinforcing its relevance in the AMD graphics ecosystem.
The ACS i Composite ServerIntroduces a number of additional features not available on the Weston, and AMD mentions that it will focus on offering advanced capabilities and specific optimizations for AMD hardware. Among the main exclusive features, it highlights support for FreeSync, a technology that allows dynamic adjustment of the monitor's refresh rate (VRR) to provide a fluid experience both in games and when playing videos, eliminating cuts and visual tears.
The creation of ACS responds to the need for an environment where new capabilities related to Wayland can be testedAMD plans to bring these innovations back into the main Weston project when possible. However, it will also use ACS to manage hardware-specific code that cannot be brought into Weston due to Weston project policies that limit the inclusion of hardware-specific features.
Features and functions of ACS
Today, ACS is already in development and it is mentioned that It already has the implementation of the multilayer composition technique (MPO), which uses underlay compositing. In this approach, the desktop is layered on top of other layers, rather than overlaying content directly on top of the underlying layer, thereby reducing GPU load, optimizing resource usage, and simplifying the rules for combining graphical elements.
Also integrates a native multimedia player, ACS Media Player, designed to showcase advanced video playback capabilities. This player Includes support for HDR, FreeSync, hardware acceleration via VDPAU/VAAPI and direct access to the FFmpeg APIAlso included is support for the Wayland color management protocol extension, which enables wide-gamut color management, along with the ability to play full-screen HDR video and perform HDR Tone Mapping for compatible monitors.
Support for configurations multiseat is another important addition, allowing different GPUs (such as an integrated and a discrete one) to be assigned to independent input devices, which facilitates simultaneous sessions on separate screens within the same systema. In addition, ACS includes a minor update to the graphical user interface, improving its functionality and usability.
Among the latests Moravia's compositions features that are still in development, It is planned to implement the Color management and HDR at the individual window level, the incorporation of trusted memory zones (TMZ) and modes of protection against data interception on screen (Secure Display). Also mentioned are AMDGPU-specific optimizations, advanced GPU debugging and reset tools, virtualization support for QEMU, a graphical interface for the UMR debugger, and the integration of MM Audio support geared toward video and gaming.
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