How to use Codex to build an SM750 HDMI driver
An author used Codex on physical machines to develop an SM750 HDMI driver, with Qwen coordinating research and updates. Work progressed through color bars, X11 support, specification fixes, and optimization; a frequency experiment damaged a TV connection.
news.ycombinator.com
Suggested prompt
Suggested prompt written by Agents In Use, not the source author. Replace bracketed inputs and review tool permissions first.
Investigate driver support for [GPU and chip identities] on [dedicated Linux test machine]. Start with [framebuffer output goal], then propose small, reviewable steps toward [X11 requirements]. Check behavior against [hardware specifications] and keep display modes within [approved limits].
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See placements →Evidence at a glance
Sourced account- Source poster / publisher
- SillyUsername
- Original account
- Read the source ↗
- Published
- Source link checked
- Reported result
- The author reported color-bar output, X11 work, specification bug fixes, and optimization before GitHub workflow preparation. A high-frequency experiment damaged a television's HDMI connection.
- Human involvement
- The author supplied hardware details, set iteration scope, moved hardware, tested small groups of changes, and judged driver quality.
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How the agent did it
- Investigate the SM750 card and its capabilities with Qwen.
- Give Codex a physical Mint machine with root access and the GPU.
- Supply chip identities and define the initial framebuffer experiment.
The author needed a driver for an SM750 graphics card that fit a spare PCIe x1 slot. They first investigated the idea with Qwen, then gave Codex a dedicated physical machine running a fresh Mint installation, root access, and the connected GPU. Syncthing copied the work folder for visibility, while Qwen checked progress and sent Telegram updates.
The author supplied chip identities and used plan mode to define an initial low-level framebuffer experiment. After several hours, the machine displayed color bars. They then requested X11 support. During experiments with frequencies beyond VESA standards, the author reported damaging a television's HDMI connection.
Development moved to the intended machine and ultrawide monitor. The author iterated through scripts that rebuilt the module and restarted X11, testing one to three ideas at a time. Codex and Qwen checked behavior against specifications and found bugs. Codex Max later audited and optimized laggy code. Licensing checks and GitHub workflow preparation followed. Who it's for: Experienced hardware developers equipped to supervise privileged driver experiments on physical test equipment.
Prompt
Suggested prompt (written by Agents In Use, not the author's)
Source: Hacker News · SillyUsername
Frequently asked questions
What environment did Codex receive for driver development?
Codex received a dedicated physical machine with a fresh Mint installation, root access, and the SM750 GPU connected directly.
Did the hardware experiments cause any reported damage?
Yes. The author reported damaging a television's HDMI connection while trying high-frequency modes beyond VESA standards.
How were fixes and optimizations applied?
The author iterated with module-build and X11-restart scripts, testing one to three ideas or fixes at a time, and later requested an audit and optimization from Codex Max.
More details
Remaining steps
- Observe color bars and request basic X11 support.
- Move to the intended machine and iterate on module builds and fixes.
- Check specifications, optimize the driver, and prepare GitHub workflows.
About this account
Codex developed and tested the driver on directly connected hardware, while Qwen coordinated updates and assisted when Codex was unavailable.
Platform: Hacker News. Attribution: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49503658. Prompt: Suggested (written by Agents In Use, not the author's). Sourced by the Agents In Use pipeline.
Credit: SillyUsername on Hacker News
Source published
Added to Agents In Use
Source checked
Tools and topics
Codex · Qwen · Linux Mint · Syncthing · X11 · Telegram
GPU driver · Linux · SM750 · Physical testing
Editorial completeness: 100/100. Measures documented fields, not agent performance or verified outcomes.