[linux-audio-user] Common linux audio layer

[Christoph Eckert]

> I think the term "multi tasking" would have applied better
> here.

Well, I at first thought multi tasking would be enough, but it 
isn't as I wrote before. I often use up to three X sessions 
(mine, me as a different user with english settings for 
software testing and making the videos, my girl friend 
surfing the web) but I can only have one of the three users 
playing sound :( .

Furthermore a cron shell script is not able to play a beep as 
soon as a user tries to log in from a unknown machine. Why 
shouldn't this be possible even if we both do not like it?

> Ther problem described seems to be about different
> applications having their sound output mixed and sent to
> the audio device without the need for special rigging.

Ignoring the multi user issue, this would at least be a first 
great step! Even for programmers of audio applications so 
they do not have to implement five different sound systems. 
When testing different apps, I noticed that only a few of 
them have real support for all major exisiting audio APIs 
(ALSA, OSS, arts, esound, jack, ...).

> The desirability of this is debatable. I think it was on
> this list that I read about a music record that hit the
> streets with a Windows "you have mail" beep in the middle
> of the music :-)

I hate this example, but in fact, this illustrates what I 
mean. And - I dislike playing my MUA a sound - but if a user 
likes it, why shouldn't it be possible to have MuSE playing 
Zyn while an incoming mail or instant message can play a 
sound? I for myself dislike it, but why shouldn't it be 
possible if someone likes it?

I do not like to domineer over other users.


 Best regards


    ce