Messages in this thread | | | From | (Linus Torvalds) | Subject | Re: Kernel interface changes (was Re: cdrecord problems on | Date | 7 Feb 1999 08:15:24 GMT |
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In article <79g5bu$spd$1@palladium.transmeta.com>, H. Peter Anvin <hpa@transmeta.com> wrote: > >* Linus Torvalds has no interest whatsoever in developing such a > plug-in ABI. Someone else is welcome to do it.
No, it's even more than that.
I _refuse_ to even consider tying my hands over some binary-only module.
Hannu Savolainen tried to add some layering to make the sound modules more "portable" among Linux kernel versions, and I disliked it for two reasons:
- extra layers decrease readability, and sometimes make for performance problems. The readability thing is actually the larger beef I had with this: I just don't want to see drivers start using some strange wrapper format that has absolutely nothing to do with how they work.
- I _want_ people to expect that interfaces change. I _want_ people to know that binary-only modules cannot be used from release to release. I want people to be really really REALLY aware of the fact that when they use a binary-only module, they tie their hands.
Note that the second point is mainly psychological, but it's by far the most important one.
Basically, I want people to know that when they use binary-only modules, it's THEIR problem. I want people to know that in their bones, and I want it shouted out from the rooftops. I want people to wake up in a cold sweat every once in a while if they use binary-only modules.
Why? Because I'm a prick, and I want people to suffer? No.
Because I _know_ that I will eventually make changes that break modules. And I want people to expect them, and I never EVER want to see an email in my mailbox that says "Damn you, Linus, I used this binary module for over two years, and it worked perfectly across 150 kernel releases, and Linux-5.6.71 broke it, and you had better fix your kernel".
See?
I refuse to be at the mercy of any binary-only module. And that's why I refuse to care about them - not because of any really technical reasons, not because I'm a callous bastard, but because I refuse to tie my hands behind my back and hear somebody say "Bend Over, Boy, Because You Have It Coming To You".
I allow binary-only modules, but I want people to know that they are _only_ ever expected to work on the one version of the kernel that they were compiled for. Anything else is just a very nice unexpected bonus if it happens to work.
And THAT, my friend, is why when somebody complains about AFS, I tell them to go screw themselves, and not come complaining to me but complain to the AFS buys and girls. And why I'm not very interested in changing that.
Linus
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