Re: Cosmetic JFFS patch.

Gerhard Mack (gmack@innerfire.net)
Thu, 28 Jun 2001 12:25:09 -0700 (PDT)


On Thu, 28 Jun 2001, Jeff Garzik wrote:

> Linus Torvalds wrote:
> > Things like version strings etc sound useful, but the fact is that the
> > only _real_ problem it has ever solved for anybody is when somebody thinks
> > they install a new kernel, and forgets to run "lilo" or something. But
> > even that information you really get from a simple "uname -a".
> >
> > Do we care that when you boot kernel-2.4.5 you get "net-3"? No. Do we care
> > that we have quota version "dquot_6.4.0"? No. Do we want to get the
> > version printed for every single driver we load? No.
> >
> > If people care about version printing, it (a) only makes sense for modules
> > and (b) should therefore maybe be done by the module loader. And modules
> > already have the MODULE_DESCRIPTION() thing, so they should NOT printk it
> > on their own. modprobe can do it if it wants to.
>
> As Alan said, driver versions are incredibly useful. People use update
> their drivers over top of kernel drivers all the time. Vendors do it
> too. "Run dmesg and e-mail me the output" is 1000 times more simple for
> end users.

Why not a generic way to query the drivers for version info from
userspace?

Gerhard

--
Gerhard Mack

gmack@innerfire.net

<>< As a computer I find your faith in technology amusing.

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