Messages in this thread | | | Subject | Re: Kernel interface changes (was Re: cdrecord problems on | From | Derek Atkins <> | Date | 04 Feb 1999 09:08:05 -0500 |
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alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk (Alan Cox) writes:
> Yes. We also have to find the right boundary between never changing > (the MSDOS stagnation/windows liability and effective death over > time, sun 18month bug fix) and excessive changes.
Alan, I agree with this statement completely. This is why I believe Linux _IS_ a superior OS, because it is possible to make changes to the kernel. And I also think that the 'right boundary' is the so-called "stable release."
All I've said is that during stable releases (1.0, 1.2, 2.0, 2.2, etc.), source-level *AND* binary compatibility should be tantamount. As I said in my original message, security and stability bugfixes are ok in a stable release -- your fix so people cannot crash the machine via the network is _probably_ ok. But those changes should be minimized and should only be done as a last resort -- and I think we, as kernel developers, have the obligation to keep source *AND* binary compatibility unless all else fails!
I'm not complaining about the f00f bug fix, or the teardrop attack. I'm complaining about _GRATUITOUS_ changes to the kernel, changes like re-ordering structure members or changing structure member names or the like. Indeed, I didn't even complain about the 2.0.0->2.0.1 change from Linus to make one of the VFS interfaces POSIX compliant (although that is getting _close_ to unacceptable). However, I believe that when changes are made, we have an obligation to preserve binary interface compatibility -- I mean, it's usually our own fault anyways, so why should we have the easy way out? ;)
But you're also right that Linux cannot stagnate. I say, during the development work (1.1, 1.3, 2.1, etc.), let it fly, have fun, go change things. That's the point of development kernels. I don't think anyone depends on kernel-level compatibility between major releases. I don't. I would expect to have to recompile for 1.2, 2.0, 2.2, etc. I just don't want to have to recompile kernel modules for 1.2.0, 1.2.1, 1.2.2, 1.2.3, 1.2.4....2.0.0, 2.0.1, 2.0.2, 2.0.3..... 2.2.0, 2.2.1, 2.2.2.....
> Alan
-derek
-- Derek Atkins, SB '93 MIT EE, SM '95 MIT Media Laboratory Member, MIT Student Information Processing Board (SIPB) URL: http://web.mit.edu/warlord/ PP-ASEL N1NWH warlord@MIT.EDU PGP key available
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