linux-kernel - Re: Binary Drivers

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Message-Id: <200612222300.17463.wdraxinger@darkstargames.de>
Date:	Fri, 22 Dec 2006 23:00:18 +0100 (MET)
From:	Wolfgang Draxinger <wdraxinger@...kstargames.de>
To:	LKML <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>
Cc:	Rok Markovic <kernel@...ardia.eu>
Subject: Re: Binary Drivers

Am Freitag, 22. Dezember 2006 20:22 schrieb Rok Markovic:
> Hi!
>
> Maybe this does not belong to this thread, but I am wondering why
> manufactorers doesn't want to release specifications about drivers.
> They have decided to develop some hardware for, let say 3D
> accelaration. Now they are selling hardware and users are buying
> hardware. Users are not buying hardware because they want to run
> mighty drivers, they want to use hardware.

You're not alone, I think everybody who knows, how things in a 
computer work shares this view.

> 1. Why they do not reveal spec. if user allready bought hardware,
> though they give driver for free but not specs.
>
> 2. Who can contribute if they reveal specifications (how to use
> hardware) ?
>
>
> Can anyone answer does questions?

A few years ago I had some closer contact with a driver developer of a 
well known consumer HW manufacturer hunting down some nasty bugs I 
discovered and developed workarounds for. From him I know, that most 
developers and engineers would have no problem to disclose the 
hardware specifications. The real hinderers are legal affairs and - 
suprisingly - marketing departments; with little more knowledge about 
the internals of their products, for them _everything_ created within 
the company is considered as not to be leaked, valuable information 
by them.

Wolfgang Draxinger

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