Re: [RFC PATCH] media: usb: gspca: remove driver for old webcams

[Michal Pecio <michal.pecio@gmail.com>]

On Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:29:10 +0200, johannes.goede@oss.qualcomm.com
wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> On 23-Sep-26 09:32, Hans Verkuil wrote:
> > The gspca driver supports a large number of old non-UVC webcams
> > that use proprietary formats.
> > 
> > These webcams are poorly maintained, have very poor image quality,
> > and there is no use-case for them anymore since even the cheapest
> > UVC webcam will be better than these.
> > 
> > The last time there was a 'real' change to gspca was in 2021, one in
> > 2019 and one in 2018.
> > 
> > We see an uptick in the number of suspected AI patches in this
> > driver, and I really don't want to waste time on that.

Well, quietly ignoring AI slop is an option I guess.
 
> > So let's remove this driver.
> > 
> > Signed-off-by: Hans Verkuil <hverkuil+cisco@kernel.org>  
> 
> As someone who did a lot of work on gspca I'm a bit sad to see this
> go, with that said I understand why you're doing this and I think it
> likely is for the best.
> 
> The only worry I have is that some of the earlier builtin laptop USB
> webcams might not all have been UVC and replacing the builtin cam is
> no were near as easy as replacing an external one.

That was my first thought too, because I have a laptop with m5602 IIRC.

But TBH this laptop mostly just gathers dust nowadays, so IDK how much
people still care about these drivers.

Regards,
Michal