Messages in this thread | | | Date | Tue, 6 Oct 1998 10:02:05 -0500 (CDT) | From | Shaun Wilson <> | Subject | Re: [Off Topic Conspiracy Theories] RE: UDI and Free(tm) Software |
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> >> vendors release UDI drivers for their hardware. If the various vendors > >> find that they have a problem providing the detailed support for their > >> board, it should encourage them to provide source code, or detailed > >> information for their hardware. In either case, I believe Linux wins. > > The point he is trying to make (and I'm not saying that I agree or > disagree) is that if Linux starts using UDI drivers we lose stability. >
This is why it's _very_ important that we have access to either source code and/or specifications, for the sake of stability. I agree with you in that stability is a major issue, but this can be easily solved with the linux community having access to information.
If there is a problem with a UDI driver, I would assume that the creator would be first responsible for a fix. I don't knwo specifics on UDI but I shoudl hop ethta if it 'barfs' in Linux it is goign to barf in _all_ other systems as well. And thus the vendor will be urged to have the problem resolved.
As an off topic note: does not anyone see this as an attempt to corner a market such as Microsoft does with thair drivers base? Most users by MS simply because of product support. How many would be tempted to not only buy by singularly develop for an architecture which, well, has a large drivers base, e.g. more product support. (i'm asking for it, i know, but in all honesty, how far does UDI extend? Alpha? Sun? Will Apple join in? And how well woudl a UDI driver scale accross those platforms? Is it really something fit for Linux, a seemingly cross-platform operating system?
... but stability is an issue.
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