no not at all.
all opinions and critisism is welcome here.

Infact i would agree with everything you said.

Currently, there is a debate between the linux kernel developers.
It has been surgested that Linux should contains a stable, binary driver API.

basically, what this means, is linux would contain a layer that would allow hardware manufacturers to write a single linux driver for there devices, that would work on any linux version.

This would have good points and bad points,

The good point, would mean that like windows, all hardware could be supported.

Some hardware manufacturers dont like Open sourcing there code, The dont want to put the money into maintaining a linux driver, and they dont bother properly documenting there hardware.

Which is why there is no driver support for complicated hardware like winModems.

The bad point world bo stability.

Drivers run at the kernel level.

A bad driver has the ability to crash your whole system.

Many times when MS windows crashes, its not MS's fault at all, but the fault of a buggy driver.

Linux is currently imune to such issues because the kernel developers write all the drivers.

If hardware companys were allowed to wrtie drivers, Linux would suffer the same instability risks that wiondows does.

Even though that Driver layer would eliminate the number one linux critisism (hardware support) It looks like the kernel developers (and definatly linux himself) will decide to keep hardware manufacturers out of the kernel.

Linux doesnt want hardware companys to open their source, or to write there own drivers, it wants them to properly document the hardware, so that linux kernel developers can write their own drivers.

I like the way linux chooses hardware incompatability, rather than isk instability.

 

 

 

Reply

Maybe we should open a new post on that subject : why do you like Linux ?
Personnally, I am conviced that a lot of professional people need a multi-task, multi-user system, for instance for database usage.
Unix is a real multi-task, multi-user operating system. Linux a free version of Linux, so it's comfortable to use it home. And if you like it home, you will want to implement it at your office.

Reply

Thanky you so much for sheading some light on this, qwijibow! It really made an interesting read. For me as a total n00b to linux it explains many things I never found anywhere explained so precise and concisely. [not sure if this is the proper English word for it, English not being my first language ]

Anyway, it gives me a totally new perspective on the subject matter. And from the point of view of a clueless person, I would say the standpoint the kernel developers take is very understandable.

I just wish I would find more enlightning reads like your post when wading through all the stuff that is written day by day on the net.


curare

 

 

 

Reply

Thankyou

I dont think anyone has ever given me such good feedback from a post.

Welcome to Astahost.

Reply