From: Hans Verkuil <hverkuil+cisco@kernel.org>
To: Laurent Pinchart <laurent.pinchart@ideasonboard.com>
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 11:59:49 +0200 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <d355baaf-3c7b-42d9-8364-18cf91e1bcf3@kernel.org> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20260923075156.GB3532@killaraus.ideasonboard.com>
On 23/09/2026 09:51, Laurent Pinchart wrote:
> Hi Hans,
>
> 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.
>
> 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.
>
> 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?
It's probably best to drop them in v4l_fill_fmtdesc.
Regards,
Hans
>
>> 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
>
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-09-30 9:59 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 [this message]
2026-09-30 12:15 ` Laurent Pinchart
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
Reply instructions:
You may reply publicly to this message via plain-text email
using any one of the following methods:
* Save the following mbox file, import it into your mail client,
and reply-to-all from there: mbox
Avoid top-posting and favor interleaved quoting:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posting_style#Interleaved_style
* Reply using the --to, --cc, and --in-reply-to
switches of git-send-email(1):
git send-email \
--in-reply-to=d355baaf-3c7b-42d9-8364-18cf91e1bcf3@kernel.org \
--to=hverkuil+cisco@kernel.org \
--cc=brijohn@gmail.com \
--cc=enelsonmoore@gmail.com \
--cc=erik.andren@gmail.com \
--cc=frank@zago.net \
--cc=laurent.pinchart@ideasonboard.com \
--cc=lcostantino@gmail.com \
--cc=linux-media@vger.kernel.org \
--cc=mchehab@kernel.org \
--cc=o.lorin@laposte.net \
/path/to/YOUR_REPLY
https://kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/git-send-email.html
* If your mail client supports setting the In-Reply-To header
via mailto: links, try the mailto: link
Be sure your reply has a Subject: header at the top and a blank line
before the message body.
This is a public inbox, see mirroring instructions
for how to clone and mirror all data and code used for this inbox