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Date: Tue, 02 Mar 1999 12:06:37 -0800
To: alsa-devel@alsa.jcu.cz
From: "Kevin Duffey" <kduffey@inprise.com>
Subject: Re: updated call.html
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>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.

I do agree with you on this. I was surprised at first to see his quote in
here as well. I felt it made us look a little unprofessional.


>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.


VERY GOOD! I like this much better. It seems a more professioinal attitude
towards our goals.


Kevin Duffey
kduffey@inprise.com

