Sonar GNU/Linux merges with Vinux

Linux for blind general discussion blinux-list at redhat.com
Wed Apr 26 11:04:56 UTC 2017


Tony Baechler here.

On 4/24/2017 1:46 PM, Linux for blind general discussion wrote:
> This is Luke Yelavich, reply below.
>
> On Mon, Apr 24, 2017 at 09:23:19PM AEST, Linux for blind general discussion wrote:
>> Screen readers cannot give boot messages anyways, with software speech.
>
> Actually, with things set up correctly to allow the screen reader to come up
> as early as possible, yes they can.
>
> Speakup can do this if working with a hardware speech synth from very very
> early on, which is why so many people like it, but there are ways and means
> to do siumilar with pure software, if you are willing to make your initramfs
> a little larger.


Am I correct in saying that while in theory it could be done, isn't it 
impractical? Taking a standard initramfs on a standard Debian-based system, 
how would you know what sound drivers to include? I'm sure initramfs-tools 
doesn't do this, even if you include all modules. That would add a huge 
amount of bloat, possibly running you out of memory. You would need at least 
libespeak and espeakup, right?

The only way I could see this being done is if you build your own custom 
initramfs for your system and sound card with your sound card drivers. I 
remember there was a lot of debate about this with D-I. The smaller D-I 
images would be too big with the sound card drivers. The kernel can 
autodetect and load the right module, but again, almost all sound modules 
would have to be included, right?

If I'm wrong, I would be interested in knowing how this can be done. As much 
as I like hardware speech, I would like to move away from it so I don't have 
to build a custom kernel with the Speakup patch periodically.




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