Messages in this thread | | | Date | Fri, 15 Mar 1996 22:49:22 -0500 (EST) | From | Speed Racer <> | Subject | Re: Is anyone using EXT FS |
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On Thu, 14 Mar 1996 mrodin@imsa.edu wrote:
> > > Can we get rid of the ext fs? > > > > We can, but we shouldn't. > > > > The ext filesystem is useful as a reference, to show where ext2 came > > from, and illustrate what to avoid when creating a filesystem. > > > > that is true, but there is a question of whether every academically > interesting or useful to kernel programmers should be included in the > stable production kernel source. > if linux is to be truly successful, there has to be some consideration of > what actual users are interested in. > and as interesting and useful as the ext fs may be from a programming > perspective, the general public does not, in short, care. > > no one is suggesting that the ext fs should be thrown away permanently > or any such nonsense. in fact, there is no reason why all the old kernel > segments shouldn't still be available somewhere. but the source distribution > doesn't need to include them all.
that's certainly true. just a year or so ago, the main source tree was just over 2.3 MB. Now, in less than a year, and without even a new "stable" release (e.g., a 1.4/2.0) it's ballooned up to over 4.3 MB. That's close to double in just a year. I don't think even Winbloze grew that fast. Maybe because we have a much more open development model, but still...
I'm probably going to be lambasted for saying this, but... Is there a way to start distributing modular pieces of the kernel source separately? I know this puts a lot of work on Linus, but it makes it a more distributed system. The "main" kernel code can be controlled by Linus, and any modules can be distributed by their maintainers. Questions/patches have to go to them anyway, right?
We could maybe have a "core" distribution of the main kernel code, and if people want we can still have the "everything" distribution. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
shag
Judd Bourgeois shagboy@thecia.net Finger for PGP public key There's a lost man with a bitter soul For only a moment did life make him whole And while he was, he thought he was invincible... Matthew Sweet, "Smog Moon"
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