netdev - Re: Linux driver for Realtek RTL8723AU devices with USB ID 0bda:1724 such as found in Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13

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Date:	Wed, 08 May 2013 13:12:15 -0500
From:	Larry Finger <Larry.Finger@...inger.net>
To:	Greg KH <gregkh@...ux-foundation.org>
CC:	"H. Peter Anvin" <hpa@...or.com>,
	linux-wireless <linux-wireless@...r.kernel.org>,
	LKML <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	netdev <netdev@...r.kernel.org>, Dan Williams <dcbw@...hat.com>,
	'George0505' <george0505@...ltek.com>,
	Joon Ro <joonhyoung.ro@...il.com>
Subject: Re: Linux driver for Realtek RTL8723AU devices with USB ID 0bda:1724
 such as found in Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13

On 05/08/2013 11:23 AM, Greg KH wrote:
> On Wed, May 08, 2013 at 11:06:44AM -0500, Larry Finger wrote:
>> On 05/07/2013 09:32 PM, H. Peter Anvin wrote:
>>>
>>> So I can verify that this driver works against 3.8.11 (not against
>>> current -linus because of a build failure), and yes, there is Bluetooth
>>> in this device.  In fact, it seems to work better than some in-tree
>>> drivers I have seen in the past.
>>>
>>> However, I'm confused as to the above and what it implies for the
>>> purpose of the staging tree.  Wasn't the whole point of the staging tree
>>> to have a working-but-ugly driver upstream and have the work to clean it
>>> up happen in the mainline tree instead of off somewhere.
>>
>> Yes, but even staging has some standards.
>
> I have standards?  That's a first :)
>
>> For example, they frown on inclusion of firmware in a massive data
>> block in a file in the driver - it should be in a separate file the
>> /lib/firmware/ tree.
>
> Sure, that would be "nice", but it's not something that I should reject
> a driver for, have I done that?

No. You merely "recommended" that it be the #1 item in the TODO list, which 
forced me to fix it fairly quickly for r8712u.

>
>> In addition, the mainline drivers/net/wireless/ tree is only available
>> to devices that use mac80211 for the software-based MAC layer. That
>> conversion is a serious effort that may never be done, thus the
>> 8723au driver may never leave staging.
>
> That's a bigger deal, but note, some drivers have done it, it is not
> impossible.

Most of them were in the kernel before mac80211, and have been given a pass as 
part of a "grandfather" clause.

Unfortunately, I forgot the main reason for development in an off-line repo. I 
do not have one of these devices, and I have drawn the line at purchasing a 
$1000 Lenovo tablet just to get one. Making "small" untested changes in the 
off-line repo for the users to verify is a lot simpler than working through 
staging, no matter how accommodating you are. :)

If someone wants to donate a device, that would speed up the process.

Larry

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