On 09/08/07, Greg KH <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Thu, Aug 09, 2007 at 01:03:39AM +0200, Jesper Juhl wrote:
> > >
> > I think the only way to avoid it is to not provide something like UIO.
>
> Problem is, things like UIO provide a real solution for a wide range of
> different types of devices. Like the one provided in the kernel right
> now, and a bunch of others that I am currently discussing with different
> manufacturers (think high-speed DSPs that just want to give userspace
> direct access to the card and have the kernel get the hell out of the
> way so data can be read and processed as fast as possible.)
>
Please understand that I'm not saying UIO isn't potentially useful,
nor am I saying that it won't potentially give us support for a bunch
of new hardware. All I'm trying to say is that, to me at least, it is
trying to buy us those new drivers in a way that encourages creating
those drivers as closed source software- *that* is all I'm having
issues with - that is what I think is a step backwards - something
that may give us a short-term gain but will make us lose out
long-term.
> And also realize that some types of systems have been doing this very
> same kind of kernel/userspace interface for many years, namely X :)
>
That something has been going on for years doesn't in itself make it a
good argument for that model. ;-)
> As for the legalities of using closed source userspace code with the UIO
> interface, consult a lawyer if you have questions, and be sure to bring
> up Alan's comments about derivative works :)
>
I'm not arguing against closed source applications in userspace. That
is of course OK. What I'm arguing about is a kernel interface that
encourages closed source (userspace) *drivers*.
--
Jesper Juhl <[email protected]>
Don't top-post http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/T/top-post.html
Plain text mails only, please http://www.expita.com/nomime.html
-
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to [email protected]
More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/
[Index of Archives]
[Kernel Newbies]
[Netfilter]
[Bugtraq]
[Photo]
[Stuff]
[Gimp]
[Yosemite News]
[MIPS Linux]
[ARM Linux]
[Linux Security]
[Linux RAID]
[Video 4 Linux]
[Linux for the blind]
[Linux Resources]
