How to convert Python / Kivy program from using X11 to using framebuffer (from Window to Kiosk operation)

Question

I am running a Python program using Kivy to create the program's GUI. This works as expected when the program is running on a Desktop on an X11 server. However I want to convert the Python / Kivy program into a stand alone application. A Kiosk application. Instead of running a Desktop and X11 server, I want to convert the Python / Kivy program to write directly to the FramBuffer. This is talked about here in on the Kivy web site. But this does not appear to be a fully functional example program. Any help in explaining how to use the information on this web page or identifying a working Kivy / FrameBuffer project I can inspect would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Kivy doesn't support rendering directly to a linux framebuffer. The fbo documentation you have found is for opengl framebuffer objects.

The exception is for the raspberry pi, on which we supports its particular EGL implementation.

It should be technically possible to support rendering without X, but you'd likely need to write a new Window backend implementing this by setting up the framebuffer to display opengl. I've never seen anyone successfully do this so there are likely no examples.

It's likely to be more straightforward to use a minimal X11 kiosk, or a wayland kiosk may be more lightweight and should work fine.