Difference between revisions of "OSS and ALSA"

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{{Wikipedia|Advanced Linux Sound Architecture|label1=ALSA|Open Sound System|label2=OSS}}
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{{Wikipedia|Open Sound System|l1=OSS|Advanced Linux Sound Architecture|l2=ALSA}}
  
'''ALSA''' or '''Advanced Linux Sound Architecture''' is the framework for audio on [[GNU/Linux]] systems, succeeding the earlier OSS (Open Sound System) framework. It is not itself a sound server like [[PulseAudio]], it is just the Linux kernel code for handling sound as an {{API}}.
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'''OSS''' or '''Open Sound System''' is a framework for audio on [[GNU/Linux]] and *BSD systems. The GNU/Linux community eschewed OSS after improvements to the code were made [[proprietary]], though these were eventually re-released [[open source]].<br />
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OSSv4 is still used on [[FreeBSD]] and miscellaneous GNU/Linux distros.
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'''ALSA''' or '''Advanced Linux Sound Architecture''' is the more powerful replacement framework. It is not itself a sound server like PulseAudio, it is just the Linux kernel code for handling sound as an {{API}}. [[PulseAudio]] and [[JACK]] are built on ALSA.
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{{VLC}} supports both as separate modules: {{docmod|oss}} and {{docmod|alsa}}.
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== Further reading ==
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* https://help.ubuntu.com/community/OpenSound
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* https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Open_Sound_System
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* https://insanecoding.blogspot.com/2009/06/state-of-sound-in-linux-not-so-sorry.html
  
 
[[Category:Glossary]]
 
[[Category:Glossary]]
 
[[Category:GNU/Linux]]
 
[[Category:GNU/Linux]]

Latest revision as of 07:51, 21 March 2019

OSS or Open Sound System is a framework for audio on GNU/Linux and *BSD systems. The GNU/Linux community eschewed OSS after improvements to the code were made proprietary, though these were eventually re-released open source.
OSSv4 is still used on FreeBSD and miscellaneous GNU/Linux distros.

ALSA or Advanced Linux Sound Architecture is the more powerful replacement framework. It is not itself a sound server like PulseAudio, it is just the Linux kernel code for handling sound as an API. PulseAudio and JACK are built on ALSA.

VLC media player supports both as separate modules: oss and alsa.

Further reading