So, I've gotten a lot of emails about this topic, so I'll just answer them all here in public, and point people at them when they ask them again:
First off, here's Nemosoft's big post about the driver, please read that first, and the responses to that thread: http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.usb.devel/26310 And here's Linus's response after I removed the driver, when Nemosoft asked me to: http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/229968 Oh, and there's now a lwn.net thread too: http://lwn.net/Articles/99615/ Ok, on to the questions: Q: Why did you remove the hook from the pwc driver? A: It was there for the explicit purpose to support a binary only module. That goes against the kernel's documented procedures, so I had to take it out. Q: That hook had been in there for years! Why did you suddenly decide to remove it now? A: I was really not aware of the hook, and the fact that it was only good for a binary module to use. I'm sorry, I should have realized this years ago, but I didn't. Recently someone pointed this hook out to me, and the fact that it really didn't belong in there due to the kernel's policy of such hooks. So, once I became aware of it, I had no choice but to remove it. Q: Why did you delete the whole pwc driver from the tree? A: That is what the original author (Nemosoft) wanted to happen. It was his request, and I honored it. Go ask him why he wanted it out if you are upset about this, I merely accepted his decision as he was the current maintainer and author of the code. Q: But you took away my freedom! Isn't Linux about freedom? A: Again, it was Nemosoft's decision. The kernel also has to abide by it's documented procedures, so that is why the hook had to go. Remember, the original driver was released under the GPL, so you are free to take that code and maintain it if you so desire. I'd gladly support someone taking the GPL code and agreeing to maintain it, and resubmitting it for inclusion in the main kernel tree. That's the freedom that Linux provides, no closed source OS would allow you to do that, if a company pulled support for a product (which happens all the time.) Q: You jerk, I had invested lots of money in this camera, you are costing me money by ripping it out. You should be ashamed of yourself! A: See the above question about freedom. If it means that much to you, then offer to maintain the code, it's that simple. Q: You are keeping companies from wanting to write binary drivers for Linux. A: Duh! What do you think all of the kernel developers have been stating for years, in public. Binary drivers only take from Linux, they do not give back anything. See Andrew Morton's OLS 2004 keynote address for more information and background on this topic. Q: You are a fundamentalist turd / jerk / pompous ass / GNU-freebeer-biased-idiot-fundamentalist fucktard / ignorant slut! A: I've been called worse by better people, get over yourself. ------------------------------------------------------- This SF.Net email is sponsored by BEA Weblogic Workshop FREE Java Enterprise J2EE developer tools! Get your free copy of BEA WebLogic Workshop 8.1 today. http://ads.osdn.com/?ad_id=5047&alloc_id=10808&op=click _______________________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, use the last form field at: https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/linux-usb-devel
