Re: Initramfs and TMPFS!

[Erik Mouw <erik@harddisk-recovery.com>]

On Thu, Aug 25, 2005 at 08:05:32PM +0100, Alan Jenkins wrote:
> > On Thu, Aug 25, 2005 at 12:32:50AM -0400, robo...@godmail.com wrote: 
> > > Right, but it would be nice to have that option if initramfs 
> > > using tmpfs becomes part of the kernel. 
> > 
> > But it's not needed so why add bloat? 
> 
> I'm not subscribed, so sorry if this doesn't fall into the original
> thread.  I'm curious as to why the kernel has to include the decoder -
> why you can't just run a self-extracting executable in an empty
> initramfs (with a preset capacity if needs be).

How would that help? It's still a decoder in the kernel, so why not use
one that's well tested instead of using whatever the archive thinks is
good?

Also remember the code has to be cross platform: an in-kernel decoder
will just work on any platform, a self-extracting binary will probably
only work on one platform.

Besides, initramfs was made to set up userland. A self-extracting
binary creates a chicken-and-egg problem: when run it will create a
userland, but in order to be run it needs a userland.


Erik

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