linux-kernel - Re: [GIT PATCH] more Driver core patches for 2.6.19

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Message-ID: <20061216090532.GF4049@ucw.cz>
Date:	Sat, 16 Dec 2006 09:05:32 +0000
From:	Pavel Machek <pavel@...e.cz>
To:	Linus Torvalds <torvalds@...l.org>
Cc:	"Michael K. Edwards" <medwards.linux@...il.com>,
	Greg KH <gregkh@...e.de>, Andrew Morton <akpm@...l.org>,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [GIT PATCH] more Driver core patches for 2.6.19

Hi!

> > Seriously, though, please please pretty please do not allow a facility
> > for "going through a simple interface to get accesses to irqs and
> > memory regions" into the mainline kernel, with or without toy ISA
> > examples.
> 
> I do agree.
> 
> I'm not violently opposed to something like this in practice (we've 
> already allowed it for USB devices), but there definitely needs to be a 
> real reason that helps _us_, not just some ass-hat vendor that looks for a 
> way to avoid open-sourcing their driver.
> 
> If there are real and valid uses (and as mentioned, I actually think that 
> the whole graphics-3D-engine-thing is such a use) where a kernel driver 
> simply doesn't work out well, or where there are serious tecnical reasons 
> why it wants to be in user space (and "stability" is not one such thing: 
> if you access hardware directly in user space, and your driver is buggy, 
> the machine is equally deal, and a hell of a lot harder to control to 
> boot).

Well.. it is easier to debug in userspace. While bad hw access can
still kill the box, bad free() will not, and most bugs in early
developent are actually of 2nd kind.
						Pavel
-- 
Thanks for all the (sleeping) penguins.
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