Linux 6.0 brings its H.265/HEVC userspace API to a stable state

Linux 6.0 brings its H.265/HEVC userspace API to a stable state

Linux 6.0 brings its H.265/HEVC userspace API to a stable state.

With changes to the Linux 6.0 multimedia subsystem, the H.265/HEVC userspace API is now considered stable state.

Tech media Phoronix notes that Linux 6.0 has adopted a patch that moves HEVC stateless control out of the staging area and makes “HEVC uapi stable and available for hardware decoders.”

Currently, the HEVC user space API for the Linux kernel is implemented by the Cedrus driver for Allwinner SoCs and the Hantro Media driver for Hantro Video IP for VPUs in various Rockchip and NXP SoCs.

Additionally, out-of-tree Rockchip RKVDEC and Raspberry Pi “RPI” drivers currently exist, both of which take advantage of this HEVC userspace API.

With these drivers and continuous open source code improvements using the API, it is now a stable state rather than a staging interface.

In addition to finalizing the user space API, the media subsystem of Linux 6.0 has also been updated to add the Semi AR0521 sensor driver, Cedrus and Hantro have been updated around H.265 support, and the STKWebCam driver has also been upgraded from the staging state ; As well as some fixes/cleanups to the Intel AtomISP driver, and other minor driver fixes/improvements.

For a complete list of Linux 6.0 media subsystem updates, see this pull.