Re: Linux drivers management

[Joshua Kugler <joshua.kugler@uaf.edu>]

On Monday 06 February 2006 09:31, Nicolas Mailhot wrote:
> > I think I am in a different position like you guys, I've been work with
> > Linux from programmer level to Linux promotion . My goal is not just
> > focus on Linux technical or programming, I would like to promote this
> > operating system to not just for programmers, but also non-technical
> > end-users .
>
> Since you invoke end-users I'll answer.

I heartily agree with this!!

I use two products that use out-of-tree drivers.  VMWare and NVidia cards.  
Fortunately, the build processes for both are rather painless, but there have 
been times when it has *not* been, and it was extremely frustrating.  I 
remember when VMWare was not doing a good job of supporting 2.6 kernels and I 
spent the better part of two days trying to track down a solution.  I finally 
did, but it was a third party, non-VMWare, patch to the VMWare code that 
fixed it so it would compile and run.  That's not what I consider convenience 
for the non-technical user.  A non-technical user would not have been able to 
do what I did, especially when they just want their software to work.

> Do you really think we enjoy clicking though boatloads of HTML/js/flash
> forms that will inform us about vastly important things like your custom
> license, the mirror list you want us to master or your dog's birthday ?

I want to install my machine and have everything work.  Don't make me chase 
all over the net trying to find a driver for my hardware.  If it's a network 
(i.e. ethernet device) the driver had *better* be in the tree.  Trying to 
download the driver to another computer, transferring, etc, is enough to make 
me find another brand of network card.

> Do you really think we enjoy learning all your out-of-tree driver
> release and build processes because you couldn't be bothered with using
> the same one as the kernel ?

Latest kernel == latest driver.  No need for me to try to keep all my drivers 
up to date.

> Do you really think we enjoy locating the patch that will "fix" your
> driver for our kernel because you do not bother testing anything else
> than a few kernel releases, and that only for a few months after a you
> wrote your driver ?

See comment about VMWare above.

> Do you really think we enjoy leaving in fear of a system update because
> the first thing to break will be your out-of-tree drivers ?

I sometimes delay kernel updates because I don't want to mess with updating my 
NVidia and VMWare drivers.  This is *not* good for security.

> But do not invoke end-users. Or end users will answer you.

So I did.  Please put your driver in the tree.  It will be better for all 
concerned.

j----- k-----

-- 
Joshua Kugler                 PGP Key: http://pgp.mit.edu/
CDE System Administrator             ID 0xDB26D7CE
http://distance.uaf.edu/