Quoting Jacek Pliszka <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > On Mon, 28 Jan 2002, Dmitri wrote: > > > So we need to have some easy way of providing drivers to Linux users, > > or > > else OEMs won't be able to support their devices or write drivers in > > first > > place. Diversity here is really bad (for OEMs) because a .sys file > > loads > > on every Windows/WDM box, but a foo.o driver won't work on any Linux > > kernel except the one it was compiled for (plus-minus your luck). > > Well, so what is necessary is such an example site where such > cgi-bin scripts as you described work.
I will try to think about it, though I (as everybody) have plenty of other work to do... This project would be perfect for someone with good CGI skills (mine are not that good, and I use PHP only occasionally...) The kernel side of things is very simple: - ask the user what kernel he got (uname -a) - get this kernel into the work area - ask the user what .config he got (I think that's all that is needed) - apply the user's .config, run make everything - move the driver into the release directory, give the user a link to it This is the standard, complete way, it allows custom patches to the kernel and everything else. If the OEM only wants a single module compiled then it is much easier. The usbvideo project in the CVS on SourceForge already contains this Makefile addition (contributed, not made by me!) So it can be used as well. The kbuild project can help too. > The most naive idea is to have a company which would manage such a site > and help OEMs and manufacturers to provide drivers for Linux, > having sign with them the right NDAs etc. > There are already companies doing that: 4Front Technologies for sound > drivers. Maybe similar thing for USB would be useful. I am unsure if many OEMs will be happy giving their sources to someone, even under NDA. Accidents happen (such as hacking or theft), and it is a concern. But your plan is a valid one, no doubt. A simpler way would be to create a software (mostly set of scripts) that does all the work and runs a Web server on its own. The software would be smart enough to fetch kernels and patches from www.kernel.org, all the OEM needs is to provide the source for the driver and then only watch it compiling :-) The most difficult part is to find someone who can lead such project. I am simply way too busy everywhere to do that... Cheers, Dmitri -- "Who is General Failure and why is he reading my hard disk ?"
msg02443/pgp00000.pgp
Description: PGP signature
