On 09/08/07, Greg KH <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > On Thu, Aug 09, 2007 at 01:03:39AM +0200, Jesper Juhl wrote: > > > > > I think the only way to avoid it is to not provide something like UIO. > > Problem is, things like UIO provide a real solution for a wide range of > different types of devices. Like the one provided in the kernel right > now, and a bunch of others that I am currently discussing with different > manufacturers (think high-speed DSPs that just want to give userspace > direct access to the card and have the kernel get the hell out of the > way so data can be read and processed as fast as possible.) > Please understand that I'm not saying UIO isn't potentially useful, nor am I saying that it won't potentially give us support for a bunch of new hardware. All I'm trying to say is that, to me at least, it is trying to buy us those new drivers in a way that encourages creating those drivers as closed source software- *that* is all I'm having issues with - that is what I think is a step backwards - something that may give us a short-term gain but will make us lose out long-term.
> And also realize that some types of systems have been doing this very > same kind of kernel/userspace interface for many years, namely X :) > That something has been going on for years doesn't in itself make it a good argument for that model. ;-) > As for the legalities of using closed source userspace code with the UIO > interface, consult a lawyer if you have questions, and be sure to bring > up Alan's comments about derivative works :) > I'm not arguing against closed source applications in userspace. That is of course OK. What I'm arguing about is a kernel interface that encourages closed source (userspace) *drivers*. -- Jesper Juhl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Don't top-post http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/T/top-post.html Plain text mails only, please http://www.expita.com/nomime.html - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/