Messages in this thread | | | Date | Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:41:10 -0700 (PDT) | From | Linus Torvalds <> | Subject | Re: [GIT *] Allow request_firmware() to be satisfied from in-kernel, use it in more drivers. |
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On Tue, 15 Jul 2008, david@lang.hm wrote: > > David W has made it very clear that the eventual intent of this patch series > is to remove all firmware from the kernel tree and have it shipped as a > seperate package.
I don't think that kind of black-and-white model is necessarily attainable. Nor do I think it's even _good_.
It's probably the right thign for _some_ firmware, assuming we have models that just make it easy enough - for drivers where it's generally better for distros to get the firmware from vendors rather than the kernel.
But there is certainly nothing inherently good in forcing a split.
I think both sides here need to calm down and stop being so extreme.
I do want request_firmware() to be the way to load firmware (and possibly other configuration data too, for that matter - I don't think it's necessarily wrong for people to "misuse" it for other long-term data despite the name), and I do want people to be able to update firmware easily without having to force a kernel bump, but I also don't think it means that firmware has to go away from the kernel sources.
So I think the _infrastructure_ is important. But the extreme "you have to split it off entirely" mindset is equally as stupid as the "you must compile it into the module" mindset.
Linus
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