[ath9k-devel] development of the ath9k driver for linux

[Mats Johannesson <voluspa@abrasax.se>]

On Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:08:10 +0200 micha wrote:
[...]
> i am a linux greenhorn [...]
[...]
> it took me about 7 hours [...] finally... i gave up [...]
[...]
> also the install routine seems to be pretty complicated. 
> 
> is it possible to build this beta-driver into an automatic install
> routine like many other drivers in ubuntu?

Eh, yes... That's what the ubuntu developers are working on ;-) If the
upstream 2.6.27 kernel is finalized by October they _might_ have had
time to include it in the 08-10 ubuntu distribution (MIGHT).

But you should understand that a new kernel driver - like the ath9k -
can't just be downloaded as a piece of user program. While the
different Windows kernels (pre Vista, from what I understand) chose to
be pretty much backwards compatible in regards to drivers, the linux
kernel developers have taken a stand to always keep their kernel in an
internal flux. They call it "no stable API", which gives them the
freedom to aim for the best ideas and technologies without having to
restrain their creativity. Read more about it in the kernel source
directory Documentation/stable_api_nonsense.txt

So the ath9k driver must adapt to changes in the overlaying wireless
layer, and that layer must adapt to changes in memory handling etc etc.

In my opinion, the easiest way for a normal user to get a bleeding edge
kernel driver is to wait... The other option is to spend much more than
seven hours to learn about kernel compilation and how to replace the
distribution kernel with that new home-brew.

The latter option is more fun though :-)

Mvh
Mats Johannesson