Considering the complexity of a SoC like the M1, that there is zero documentation for it, and the Asahi team can only reverse-engineer it, what are the odds that they just don't know the magic bits to twiddle to get this functionality?
> Considering the complexity of a SoC like the M1, that there is zero documentation for it, and the Asahi team can only reverse-engineer it, what are the odds that they just don't know the magic bits to twiddle to get this functionality?
I'd consider that very low because you've got a lot of eyeballs trying to get the most out of a COTS easily available hardware. The goal is to make it the best-in-class Linux support. Personally, I believe it can be done.
I follow their progress with great interest, as some of the non-technical limitations of the macbook (OLED and touchscreen) could easily be fixed.
Just because something is a COTS doesn't mean it will get great Linux support. The Nintendo Switch should be the best-supported Linux board availible by that logic, but alas, even an unlocked Tegra is only so capable.
At a certain point, vendor cooperation becomes outright necessary. Asahi has come a long way, but getting to "best-in-class Linux support" takes more than community effort with commodity hardware. Stalled-out projects like Nouveau don't lend a lot of hope for the future.
