Messages in this thread | | | From | James Clark <> | Subject | Re: Driver Model | Date | Tue, 2 Sep 2003 22:44:55 +0100 |
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Before I posted my original question I read Patrick's very helpful overview of the Driver Model (www.amc.com.au/lca/loopback/papers/ Patrick_Mochel/Patrick_Mochel.pdf).
The reason I posed the question, as a newcomer to kernel development, moving from WIN32 DDK development (sorry!) to Linux is that I was very surprised by the module interface.
Would a more rigid 'plugin' interface and the concequent move from mainly 'source' modules to binary 'plugins' (still with source-code available for all to see) mean that (a) Kernel was smaller (2) Had to be released/recompiled less (4) Was EVEN more stable and (4) 'plugins' were more portable across releases and easier to install ?
I love Linux but this seems to be holding it back...
James
On Tuesday 02 Sep 2003 10:29 pm, Patrick Mochel wrote: > > 1. Will the move to a more uniform driver model in 2.6 increase the > > chances of a given binary driver working with a 2.6+ kernel. > > Not necessarily. A binary driver still needs to be compiled for a specific > version of a kernel. And, if it's not already working, the new driver > model definitely won't help. :) > > > 2. Will the new model reduce the use/need for kernel modules. Would this > > be a good thing if functionality could be implemented in a driver instead > > of a module. > > No, it will not reduce usage of modules. The driver model has nothing to > do with whether something is compiled as a module or not. > > > 3. Will the practice of deliberately breaking some binary only 'tainted' > > modules prevent take up of Linux. Isn't this taking things too far? > > This is a loaded question, but ultimately it's a vendor issue. Most people > do and will use vendor kernels. What they do with their kernel interfaces > and how well they support binary modules is their beef. > > > Pat
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