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Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 14:09:47 -0500 (EST)
From: Fred Floberg <ffloberg@snet.net>
To: alsa-devel@alsa.jcu.cz
Subject: Re: updated call.html
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Good job on the updated call to hardware vendors.

I'd like to advance one opinion on it and get some feedback, however.

The quoted email from Linus, to me, seems a bit strong if this document
is intended to convince hardware makers to join us in supporting their
products through driver developement.

Taken in the context of the discussion that Linus's email appeared, and the
audience that he was speaking to, it doesn't seem unreasonable in tone (it's
at least understandable that Linus is frustrated by compliants about binary
kernel drivers no longer working properly after kernel upgrades), but when the
context (surrounding discussion) of his email is removed, it makes him - and by
extension, us - appear to be somewhat hot-headed.

What I would suggest, rather than quoting Linus, would be to summerize his
thoughts on binary-only kernel modules. Something like:

	Linus Torvalds, leader of the Linux development effort, has stated 
	that because binary-only drivers depend so heavily on a given kernel
	version, and therefore are so prone to "breaking" when kernel devel-
	opment proceeds, as it is bound to do, he does not intend to support
	or encourage the use of binary-only loadable drivers.

	If Linux developers were to try to maintain compatability with a given
	binary-only driver, it would severely limit the avenues of developement
	open to Linux. Our goal in Linux developemnt is to achieve the highest
	performance, the best stability (in terms of bug free code), and the
	most advanced technology possible.

	We simply cannot be made subject to the limitations that would be placed
	on us by having to maintain compatability with a third party binary-only
	loadable module.

	We, the ALSA development team, working as a subset of Linux kernel
	developers, agree with Linus Torvalds' reasoning. And this is the very
	crux of why we ask you for documentation on your hardware. We truely
	want to purchase and use your hardware in our Linux based systems, but
	we simply cannot use binary-only drivers; it's just too cumbersome and
	frustrating for all involved. Drivers that could be distributed as
	source code would eliminate all of those problems.


Fred


