Messages in this thread |  | | | Date | Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:08:13 -0500 | | From | Bill Davidsen <> | | Subject | Re: Driver removals |
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Adrian Bunk wrote: > On Fri, Feb 15, 2008 at 02:07:41PM -0500, Bill Davidsen wrote: > >> Adrian Bunk wrote: >> >>> On Wed, Feb 13, 2008 at 09:26:26PM -0500, Bill Davidsen wrote: >>> >>>> ... >>>> In general, if a driver works and is being used, until it *needs* >>>> attention I see no reason to replace it. I don't agree that "it >>>> forces people to try the new driver" is a valid reason, being >>>> unmaintained is only a problem if it needs maintenance. I am not >>>> going to reopen that topic, I'm simply noting a general opposition >>>> to unfunded mandates, and requiring changes to kernel, module and/or >>>> rc.local config is just that. >>>> >>> Keeping a working unmaintained driver in the tree is not a big deal - >>> we have hundreds of them. >>> >>> But you miss the main point that removal of an obsolete driver with a >>> new replacement driver forces people to finally report their problems >>> with the new driver, thus making the new driver better. >>> >>> >> You sure are proud of that new driver! People won't use it because the >> old one is working fine, so you think it's fine to force them to make >> changes in their system to use the new driver. >> > > Sometimes what is best in the global picture is not what everyone > subjectively considers to be the best thing for him. > > Well, our whole society is based on this principle... > > >> Best case is it works >> after costing the user some time, worst case it doesn't and breaks their >> system, so they stop upgrading the kernel and don't get security fixes. >> ... >> > > Instead of sending a bug report? >
To get the system working. > When removing an obsolete driver adult people suddenly start whining > "the new driver didn't work for me when I tried it one year ago". > > And when asking where they reported the bug in the new driver the answer > is that they didn't report it. > > Driver development heavily relies on getting bug reports when something > doesn't work.
If you don't see an ethical problem in removing a working driver which is not taking support resources, in order to force people to test and debug a driver they don't now and never would need, so that it might in time offer them the same functionality those users already had... then I can never make you see why technological extortion is evil. People have always moved to new drivers without pushing because they were *better*, guess that model is dead.
-- Bill Davidsen <davidsen@tmr.com> "Woe unto the statesman who makes war without a reason that will still be valid when the war is over..." Otto von Bismark
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