On Wed, Aug 13, 2014 at 08:14:37PM +0100, Grant Likely wrote:

BTW, Is anyone currently using the simple framebuffer for early
console? For early console we would want to start using it well before
setting up platform devices.

The code that sets up simplefb for sunxi is primarily for providing a 
console in u-boot (using the ancient cfbconsole infrastructure). From 
what i can tell, the u-boot code for rpi is about showing a splash 
screen (using the much newer lcd infrastructure).

With u-boot showing a console, it really seemed only a small step to add 
simplefb. And quite a few people in our sunxi community are interested 
in it, primarily for u-boot and early console, and only secondarily as a 
stop-gap for a full driver.

Luc Verhaegen.