Re: [PATCH] Blacklist binary-only modules lying about their license

Rik van Riel
2004-04-29T00:02:37Z

On Wed, 28 Apr 2004, Marc Boucher wrote:

> At the same time, I think that the "community" should, without
> relinquishing its principles, be less eager before getting the facts to
> attack people and companies trying to help in good faith, and be more
> realistic when it comes to satisfying practical needs of ordinary
> users.

I wouldn't be averse to changing the text the kernel prints
when loading a module with an incompatible license. If the
text "$MOD_FOO: module license '$BLAH' taints kernel." upsets
the users, it's easy enough to change it.

How about the following?

"Due to $MOD_FOO's license ($BLAH), the Linux kernel community
cannot resolve problems you may encounter. Please contact
$MODULE_VENDOR for support issues."

--
"Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place.
Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are,
by definition, not smart enough to debug it." - Brian W. Kernighan