[patch] nonblinking VGA block cursor

[Leon Breedt]

Hi,

Attached is a patch to enforce a non-blinking, FreeBSD-syscons like
block cursor in console mode.

This is useful for laptop types, or people like me who really really
detest a blinking cursor.

NOTE: It disables the softcursor escape codes 
      (/usr/src/linux/Documentation/VGA-softcursor.txt), since I don't 
      ever want anything to change my cursor shape/style :)

It applies cleanly against 2.4.5, to use, select: 

'VGA block cursor (non-blinking) support' in the 'Console drivers'
section of menuconfig.

Have fun,

Leon.

-- 
lj breedt
coder

diff -uNr linux-2.4.5/arch/i386/config.in linux-2.4.5.nonblink/arch/i386/config.in
--- linux-2.4.5/arch/i386/config.in     Fri May 25 00:14:08 2001
+++ linux-2.4.5.nonblink/arch/i386/config.in    Fri Jun 15 16:03:32 2001
@@ -356,6 +356,9 @@
    mainmenu_option next_comment
    comment 'Console drivers'
    bool 'VGA text console' CONFIG_VGA_CONSOLE
+   if [ "$CONFIG_VGA_CONSOLE" = "y" ]; then
+      bool 'VGA block cursor (non-blinking) support' CONFIG_NON_BLINK_CURSOR
+   fi
    bool 'Video mode selection support' CONFIG_VIDEO_SELECT
    if [ "$CONFIG_EXPERIMENTAL" = "y" ]; then
       tristate 'MDA text console (dual-headed) (EXPERIMENTAL)' CONFIG_MDA_CONSOLE
diff -uNr linux-2.4.5/drivers/char/console.c 
linux-2.4.5.nonblink/drivers/char/console.c
--- linux-2.4.5/drivers/char/console.c  Fri Feb  9 21:30:22 2001
+++ linux-2.4.5.nonblink/drivers/char/console.c Fri Jun 15 15:47:58 2001
@@ -124,6 +124,11 @@
 #define DEFAULT_BELL_PITCH     750
 #define DEFAULT_BELL_DURATION  (HZ/8)
 
+/* 
+ * cursor_type value for non-blinking white block cursor
+ */
+#define CUR_NONBLINK 16748305
+
 extern void vcs_make_devfs (unsigned int index, int unregister);
 
 #ifndef MIN
@@ -1403,7 +1408,12 @@
        kbd_table[currcons].ledflagstate = kbd_table[currcons].default_ledflagstate;
        set_leds();
 
+#ifdef CONFIG_NON_BLINK_CURSOR
+       cursor_type = CUR_NONBLINK;
+#else
        cursor_type = CUR_DEFAULT;
+#endif
+
        complement_mask = s_complement_mask;
 
        default_attr(currcons);
@@ -1595,6 +1605,7 @@
                        set_mode(currcons,0);
                        return;
                case 'c':
+#ifndef CONFIG_NON_BLINK_CURSOR
                        if (ques) {
                                if (par[0])
                                        cursor_type = par[0] | (par[1]<<8) | 
(par[2]<<16);
@@ -1602,6 +1613,7 @@
                                        cursor_type = CUR_DEFAULT;
                                return;
                        }
+#endif
                        break;
                case 'm':
                        if (ques) {
@@ -2445,6 +2457,9 @@
        save_screen(currcons);
        gotoxy(currcons,x,y);
        csi_J(currcons, 0);
+#ifdef CONFIG_NON_BLINK_CURSOR
+       cursor_type = CUR_NONBLINK;
+#endif
        update_screen(fg_console);
        printk("Console: %s %s %dx%d",
                can_do_color ? "colour" : "mono",