Re: The end of embedded Linux?

["" <simon@baydel.com>]

David, 


Thanks for the reply. I sense as in many emails regarding this a 
sense of frustration and this is a concern. I am writing to the list to 
try and learn and because I value the experiences of other people. 


As far as my hardware is concerned there is much more to it than 
a serial port and an interupt controller. What I was trying to explain 
was that I would not mind making my code available for these 
kernel changes. Although I don't understand why anyone would 
want it. Apart from API changes, why do this ? The kernel is not 
easily or frequently changed on this type of system. It would bloat 
the kernel and I would expect to have to address problems of this 
nature myself.  However I would not like to make code available for 
the more specialised hardware. 

   

Thanks


Simon.


<color><param>0100,0100,0100</param>On 7 Oct 2002, at 3:36, David S. Miller wrote:


<color><param>7F00,0000,0000</param>>    From: "" <<simon@baydel.com>

>    Date: Mon, 7 Oct 2002 11:06:03 +0100

> 

>    No one else can run these drivers so 

>    how could I expect someone else to maintain them ?

> 

> This is a common misconception.  When sweeping API changes

> are made to fix some bug or whatever, if your driver is in

> the tree the person making the API change will update your

> driver or add a comment saying "the new API does this, I

> couldn't figure out how to do that with your driver, please

> update" in a comment.

> 

> You get free work like this just as a side effect of being

> in the tree.

> 

> It will also be sanity build checked by lots of people who

> run the current kernels through a "enable everything" configuration.

>    

>    However I can not understand how it would be practical for many

>    organizations  to  release code under the GPL for specific hardware.

> 

> See above.

> 

>    This to some companies is too much to give 

>    away. Perhaps someone could educate me on this point ?

>    

> You talked about an interrupt controller, a serial port, lack of VGA,

> and lack of RTC on your system... doesn't sound like any ground

> breaking hardware to me.

> 

> Franks a lot,

> David S. Miller

> davem@redhat.com



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Simon Haynes - Baydel 
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Email : simon@baydel.com
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