Re: The end of embedded Linux?

©[@ÄØÿ¿8þÿ¿Patrick Jennings (simon@baydel.com)
Mon, 7 Oct 2002 18:15:18 +0100


David,

Thanks for the reply. I sense as in many emails regarding this a
sense of frustration and this is a concern. I am writing to the list to
try and learn and because I value the experiences of other people.

As far as my hardware is concerned there is much more to it than
a serial port and an interupt controller. What I was trying to explain
was that I would not mind making my code available for these
kernel changes. Although I don't understand why anyone would
want it. Apart from API changes, why do this ? The kernel is not
easily or frequently changed on this type of system. It would bloat
the kernel and I would expect to have to address problems of this
nature myself. However I would not like to make code available for
the more specialised hardware.


Thanks

Simon.

<color><param>0100,0100,0100</param>On 7 Oct 2002, at 3:36, David S. Miller wrote:

<color><param>7F00,0000,0000</param>> From: "" <<simon@baydel.com>

> Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2002 11:06:03 +0100

>

> No one else can run these drivers so

> how could I expect someone else to maintain them ?

>

> This is a common misconception. When sweeping API changes

> are made to fix some bug or whatever, if your driver is in

> the tree the person making the API change will update your

> driver or add a comment saying "the new API does this, I

> couldn't figure out how to do that with your driver, please

> update" in a comment.

>

> You get free work like this just as a side effect of being

> in the tree.

>

> It will also be sanity build checked by lots of people who

> run the current kernels through a "enable everything" configuration.

>

> However I can not understand how it would be practical for many

> organizations to release code under the GPL for specific hardware.

>

> See above.

>

> This to some companies is too much to give

> away. Perhaps someone could educate me on this point ?

>

> You talked about an interrupt controller, a serial port, lack of VGA,

> and lack of RTC on your system... doesn't sound like any ground

> breaking hardware to me.

>

> Franks a lot,

> David S. Miller

> davem@redhat.com

<nofill>
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Simon Haynes - Baydel
Phone : 44 (0) 1372 378811
Email : simon@baydel.com
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