[LAD] ALSA doumentation

[Hannu Savolainen]

Fred Gleason kirjoitti:
> On Saturday 15 November 2008 09:13:33 pm Jack O'Quin wrote:
>   
>> Most applications should use some simpler
>> interface like JACK or PulseAudio.  
>>     
>
> Or OSS or PortAudio or [insert-favorite-framework-here].  They all have their 
> places.
>
>
>   
>> The low-level driver interface 
>> should expose the full capabilities of the audio hardware for more
>> complex control purposes.
>>     
>
> Yes, which is why I think ALSA is most appropriately characterized as a 'HAL' 
> (Hardware Abstraction Layer).  Now if we could just get the bits and pieces 
> documented properly...  :)
>   
ALSA is not a 'HAL' but a 'HEL' (Hardware Exposing Layer). For good 
hardware abstraction as much details as possible should be hidden from 
the applications. Having 1500+ different functions means that there is 
hardly any abstraction left. For this reason ALSA usually needs to be 
hidden behind additional libraries (Jack, PulseAudio and dozens of more 
to come).

Best regards,

Hannu