Re: [GIT *] Allow request_firmware() to be satisfied from in-kernel, use it in more drivers.

[Marcel Holtmann <marcel@holtmann.org>]

Hi Linus,

> > David W has made it very clear that the eventual intent of this patch series
> > is to remove all firmware from the kernel tree and have it shipped as a
> > seperate package.
> 
> I don't think that kind of black-and-white model is necessarily 
> attainable. Nor do I think it's even _good_.
> 
> It's probably the right thign for _some_ firmware, assuming we have models 
> that just make it easy enough - for drivers where it's generally better 
> for distros to get the firmware from vendors rather than the kernel.
> 
> But there is certainly nothing inherently good in forcing a split.
> 
> I think both sides here need to calm down and stop being so extreme.
> 
> I do want request_firmware() to be the way to load firmware (and possibly 
> other configuration data too, for that matter - I don't think it's 
> necessarily wrong for people to "misuse" it for other long-term data 
> despite the name), and I do want people to be able to update firmware 
> easily without having to force a kernel bump, but I also don't think it 
> means that firmware has to go away from the kernel sources.

actually the PCMCIA subsystem is already using request_firmware() to
load external CIS data to overwrite broken ones.

Regards

Marcel