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SubjectRe: [Off Topic Conspiracy Theories] RE: UDI and Free(tm) Software
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Andrej Presern wrote:
>
> On Tue, 06 Oct 1998, Kevin Quick wrote:
> >For those more interested in the point, the above advantages come from
> >having explicit regions and region interfaces within UDI and I'd be
> >glad to explain further (here or individually).
> >
> >Will this catch everything that kernel-mode code can do? No.
> >Will this stop people (any people) from writing bad drivers? No.
> >Does it make it easier to know how to write a driver? Yes.
> >Does it make it easier to apply validation/certification? Yes.
>
> >Does it separate the driver from the OS to allow the OS to
> > apply explicit managment to the driver if written that way? Yes.
>
> Could you explain this last capability a bit further, please?
>
>
> >One perspective that hasn't been discussed is that UDI may *force* hardware
> >vendors to write better drivers... if they don't someone else will (at
>
> No need. You can just specify in the specification that in order to obtain
> certification for a UDI conformant device, hardware vendor must either provide
> an open source driver or provide hardware specs for the device in question such
> that someone else can write an open source driver instead.

You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.

If I was a device driver writer and I was given this odious choice,
I'd tell you in no uncertain terms what you could do with the
certification.

If, instead, you have a published interface vendors can write to the
interface _once_ and, over time, see that their competition is not
toppling over the edge into bankruptcy, but is actually benefitting
from having source available drivers, they will eventually realize
that source available drivers is a competitive advantage (and may
realize before then that's it's a lot cheaper to release the sources
and let third parties write and maintain the drivers.)

____
david parsons \bi/ Freeware is already winning without having to resort
\/ to strong arm tactics. Resist the Unix tradition and
keep the knife away from the other vendor's backs.

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