From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG  Fri Oct 30 15:58:26 2009
Return-Path: <owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG>
Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34])
	by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 03389106566B
	for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>;
	Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:58:26 +0000 (UTC)
	(envelope-from freminlins@gmail.com)
Received: from ey-out-2122.google.com (ey-out-2122.google.com [74.125.78.25])
	by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 8BE088FC0C
	for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>;
	Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:58:25 +0000 (UTC)
Received: by ey-out-2122.google.com with SMTP id d26so271431eyd.9
	for <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>;
	Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:58:24 -0700 (PDT)
DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=gmail.com; s=gamma;
	h=domainkey-signature:mime-version:received:in-reply-to:references
	:date:message-id:subject:from:to:cc:content-type;
	bh=YgiHc3bsYsjz5EKrphH3yUUJSFG9E2Ipi6bD7WLiMfQ=;
	b=uIsxB1VEf7gRoWTmzwdsqS+V3+3gjy0UIpF6IhQ/LbaKDwgXKCK1ROkWTIvGkl3NO+
	2mQOdZBlGuuJziNBs6Vg+myg45tHRnlHySDx8s4+dCG93tcWfVDyXycZXtZVnZeDxvYs
	T5uGhiR9YE6S8qAkDEJ0USrEg3VdS0/slhwQA=
DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; c=nofws; d=gmail.com; s=gamma;
	h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to
	:cc:content-type;
	b=nhpWO1PwbhhIlYixIHGSH/40ZpRDOQvrBcvf+vvmnnk90MUPf5E+hp1q9JDR3+QdPp
	tzN6P9PDP571PkD2Pmf8oBMnoLYBrcexFlhdvAh5/G6E29mqpARFl71WBsNC1QehlelE
	OivI8/9EbK1HzUBkFDuilk872/NthbLHFncxo=
MIME-Version: 1.0
Received: by 10.211.188.3 with SMTP id q3mr583936ebp.69.1256918304496; Fri, 30 
	Oct 2009 08:58:24 -0700 (PDT)
In-Reply-To: <alpine.BSF.2.00.0910300906270.49648@wonkity.com>
References: <370279.86430.qm@web56502.mail.re3.yahoo.com>
	<alpine.BSF.2.00.0910300906270.49648@wonkity.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:58:24 +0000
Message-ID: <eeef1a4c0910300858t2ff00009xbe8d82babfea3a8c@mail.gmail.com>
From: Freminlins <freminlins@gmail.com>
To: Warren Block <wblock@wonkity.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.5
Cc: Neil Short <neshort@yahoo.com>, freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
Subject: Re: Effing HAL
X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org
X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5
Precedence: list
List-Id: User questions <freebsd-questions.freebsd.org>
List-Unsubscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions>, 
	<mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=unsubscribe>
List-Archive: <http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-questions>
List-Post: <mailto:freebsd-questions@freebsd.org>
List-Help: <mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=help>
List-Subscribe: <http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-questions>, 
	<mailto:freebsd-questions-request@freebsd.org?subject=subscribe>
X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:58:26 -0000

I've read the responses and comments here, so don't think I'm ignoring
anyone because I haven't responded directly.

I rebuilt xorg-server without HAL. I killed hal stone dead and started up
the new (i.e. old-skool) xorg. It all works fine.

My mouse and keyboard work as specified in the xorg.conf file, rather than
in the new-fangled xml way of doing things or adding setxkbmap to my xinitrc
file. I am also 18MB of  RAM better off. Specifically for Adam, who asks a
rhetorical question about HAL, memory usage and top. The answer for me is
18MB too much.

My advice to anyone who has problems with X and HAL - rebuild xorg-server
without HAL (it doesn't take long),  then start from that base.

I have to say this HAL way of doing things is using a sledgehammer to crack
a nut. Sure X can be a bit horrible to configure, but HAL itself is ugly,
resource hungry and doesn't work 100%. It seems to be an example of
supposedly making things easier, except when it doesn't work.

Life is a calm blue ocean once again.

MF.