From: Laurent Pinchart <laurent.pinchart@ideasonboard.com>
To: Hans Verkuil <hverkuil+cisco@kernel.org>
Cc: Linux Media Mailing List <linux-media@vger.kernel.org>,
Mauro Carvalho Chehab <mchehab@kernel.org>,
Ethan Nelson-Moore <enelsonmoore@gmail.com>,
Frank Zago <frank@zago.net>, Olivier Lorin <o.lorin@laposte.net>,
Erik Andren <erik.andren@gmail.com>,
Brian Johnson <brijohn@gmail.com>,
Leandro Costantino <lcostantino@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [RFC PATCH] media: usb: gspca: remove driver for old webcams
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:15:02 +0300 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <20260930121502.GA944070@killaraus.ideasonboard.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <d355baaf-3c7b-42d9-8364-18cf91e1bcf3@kernel.org>
On Wed, Sep 30, 2026 at 11:59:49AM +0200, Hans Verkuil wrote:
> On 23/09/2026 09:51, Laurent Pinchart wrote:
> > On Wed, Sep 23, 2026 at 09:32:54AM +0200, 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.
> >>
> >> So let's remove this driver.
> >>
> >> Signed-off-by: Hans Verkuil <hverkuil+cisco@kernel.org>
> >> ---
> >> I CC-ed this to several maintainers of gspca webcams listed in the MAINTAINERS
> >> file. It would not surprise me if at least some of these emails are obsolete.
> >>
> >> This is an RFC for now, and if we do this then it will be for kernel 7.5.
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >>
> >> Hans
> >> ---
> >> .../admin-guide/media/gspca-cardlist.rst | 451 --
> >> .../admin-guide/media/usb-cardlist.rst | 6 -
> >> .../media/v4l/pixfmt-reserved.rst | 32 +-
> >
> > There are other mentions of gspca in the following files:
> >
> > - Documentation/.renames.txt
>
> I wasn't sure if it should be removed there as well, but I see that it should.
>
> I'll do that.
>
> > - Documentation/admin-guide/bug-hunting.rst
> > - Documentation/translations/zh_CN/admin-guide/bug-hunting.rst
>
> Yeah, that's a separate patch. Not so easy, it has to be rewritten with
> a different example driver.
Especially with the Chinese translation, that will take more work. It
can be done later too.
> > arch/arm/configs/tegra_defconfig also needs to be updated to drop
> > CONFIG_USB_GSPCA=y.
>
> Probably best to do in a separate patch as well.
Fine with me (I suppose you mean a separate patch in the same series).
> > Should we move the gspca-specific pixel formats in
> > include/uapi/linux/videodev2.h to a separate section with a header that
> > documents them as deprecated ? I think we can also drop them from
> > v4l_fill_fmtdesc() if nothing uses them in the kernel any more.
>
> Good question. I think putting them in a separate section is certainly
> a good idea. But should they be removed from v4l_fill_fmtdesc?
>
> One reason for keeping them there is if someone (or some distro) decides to
> keep the gspca driver. On the other hand, how likely is that?
I think distributions could then also restore the format descriptions in
v4l_fill_fmtdesc.
> It's probably best to drop them in v4l_fill_fmtdesc.
>
> >> MAINTAINERS | 49 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/Kconfig | 1 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/Makefile | 1 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/Kconfig | 455 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/Makefile | 100 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/autogain_functions.c | 165 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/benq.c | 274 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/conex.c | 953 ---
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/cpia1.c | 1898 -----
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/dtcs033.c | 430 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/etoms.c | 782 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/finepix.c | 293 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/Kconfig | 9 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/Makefile | 11 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/gl860-mi1320.c | 551 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/gl860-mi2020.c | 793 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/gl860-ov2640.c | 477 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/gl860-ov9655.c | 373 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/gl860.c | 730 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/gl860.h | 93 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/gspca.c | 1700 ----
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/gspca.h | 243 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/jeilinj.c | 537 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/jl2005bcd.c | 519 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/jpeg.h | 156 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/kinect.c | 474 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/konica.c | 478 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/Kconfig | 10 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/Makefile | 12 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_bridge.h | 161 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_core.c | 446 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_mt9m111.c | 600 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_mt9m111.h | 125 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_ov7660.c | 468 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_ov7660.h | 105 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_ov9650.c | 784 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_ov9650.h | 155 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_po1030.c | 623 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_po1030.h | 166 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_s5k4aa.c | 759 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_s5k4aa.h | 84 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_s5k83a.c | 576 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_s5k83a.h | 60 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_sensor.h | 69 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/mars.c | 427 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/mr97310a.c | 1077 ---
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/nw80x.c | 2105 -----
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/ov519.c | 5030 ------------
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/ov534.c | 1608 ----
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/ov534_9.c | 1821 -----
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/pac207.c | 475 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/pac7302.c | 951 ---
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/pac7311.c | 687 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/pac_common.h | 119 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/se401.c | 730 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/se401.h | 76 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/sn9c2028.c | 963 ---
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/sn9c2028.h | 48 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/sn9c20x.c | 2409 ------
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/sonixb.c | 1469 ----
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/sonixj.c | 2981 -------
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca1528.c | 438 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca500.c | 979 ---
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca501.c | 2036 -----
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca505.c | 791 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca506.c | 599 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca508.c | 1526 ----
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca561.c | 911 ---
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/sq905.c | 428 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/sq905c.c | 330 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/sq930x.c | 1156 ---
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/stk014.c | 434 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/stk1135.c | 676 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/stk1135.h | 44 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv0680.c | 339 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/Kconfig | 10 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/Makefile | 11 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx.c | 647 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx.h | 103 -
> >> .../media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_hdcs.c | 532 --
> >> .../media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_hdcs.h | 193 -
> >> .../media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_pb0100.c | 432 -
> >> .../media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_pb0100.h | 131 -
> >> .../media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_sensor.h | 74 -
> >> .../media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_st6422.c | 273 -
> >> .../media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_st6422.h | 38 -
> >> .../media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_vv6410.c | 265 -
> >> .../media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_vv6410.h | 242 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/sunplus.c | 1073 ---
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/t613.c | 1041 ---
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/topro.c | 4972 ------------
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/touptek.c | 712 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/tv8532.c | 365 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/vc032x.c | 3838 ---------
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/vicam.c | 353 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/w996Xcf.c | 569 --
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/xirlink_cit.c | 3149 --------
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/zc3xx-reg.h | 250 -
> >> drivers/media/usb/gspca/zc3xx.c | 7029 -----------------
> >> 102 files changed, 16 insertions(+), 78186 deletions(-)
> >> delete mode 100644 Documentation/admin-guide/media/gspca-cardlist.rst
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/Kconfig
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/Makefile
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/autogain_functions.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/benq.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/conex.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/cpia1.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/dtcs033.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/etoms.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/finepix.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/Kconfig
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/Makefile
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/gl860-mi1320.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/gl860-mi2020.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/gl860-ov2640.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/gl860-ov9655.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/gl860.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/gl860/gl860.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/gspca.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/gspca.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/jeilinj.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/jl2005bcd.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/jpeg.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/kinect.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/konica.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/Kconfig
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/Makefile
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_bridge.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_core.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_mt9m111.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_mt9m111.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_ov7660.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_ov7660.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_ov9650.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_ov9650.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_po1030.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_po1030.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_s5k4aa.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_s5k4aa.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_s5k83a.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_s5k83a.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/m5602/m5602_sensor.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/mars.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/mr97310a.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/nw80x.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/ov519.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/ov534.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/ov534_9.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/pac207.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/pac7302.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/pac7311.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/pac_common.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/se401.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/se401.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/sn9c2028.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/sn9c2028.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/sn9c20x.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/sonixb.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/sonixj.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca1528.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca500.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca501.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca505.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca506.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca508.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/spca561.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/sq905.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/sq905c.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/sq930x.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stk014.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stk1135.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stk1135.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv0680.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/Kconfig
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/Makefile
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_hdcs.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_hdcs.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_pb0100.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_pb0100.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_sensor.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_st6422.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_st6422.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_vv6410.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/stv06xx/stv06xx_vv6410.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/sunplus.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/t613.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/topro.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/touptek.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/tv8532.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/vc032x.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/vicam.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/w996Xcf.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/xirlink_cit.c
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/zc3xx-reg.h
> >> delete mode 100644 drivers/media/usb/gspca/zc3xx.c
--
Regards,
Laurent Pinchart
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-09-30 12:15 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 9+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2026-09-23 7:32 [RFC PATCH] media: usb: gspca: remove driver for old webcams Hans Verkuil
2026-09-23 7:43 ` Hans Verkuil
2026-09-23 7:51 ` Laurent Pinchart
2026-09-30 9:59 ` Hans Verkuil
2026-09-30 12:15 ` Laurent Pinchart [this message]
2026-09-23 15:29 ` johannes.goede
2026-09-27 9:40 ` Michal Pecio
2026-09-30 10:27 ` Hans Verkuil
2026-10-02 8:35 ` Hans de Goede
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