Pens and Tablets for Linux

Re:Pens and Tablets for Linux by tremon on Friday April 01, 2022 @05:07AM (#30876415)

There's been various explanations and rationales provided over the years, but from Linus' own words in 1999 (see https://lwn.net/Articles/159313/):

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.

The less activist stance is simply that maintaining a stable ABI requires either accumulating lots of backwards compatibility layers over time, or to stop improving certain parts of the kernel. Neither option has won out over the current situation.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Pens and Tablets for Linux by 2muchcoffeeman on Friday April 01, 2022 @06:27AM (#30876751)

I know nothing about this topic. Is there a reasonable work around to this? To provide something stable for hardware manufacturers but allowing the current kernel practices to continue?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Pens and Tablets for Linux by hutzlibu on Friday April 01, 2022 @07:03AM (#30876966)

There is none. When linus stance is, that he wants to make it intentionally hard, for binary blobs, than this won't change.

I am all for open source drivers. But I would prefer working proprietary ones, if the alternative is buggy as hell.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Pens and Tablets for Linux by rsaxvc on Friday April 01, 2022 @07:41AM (#30877169)

I think Nvidia uses their own shim layer.

[ Parent | on HN ]