kernel source/module directions and why windows users are happy
Farkas Levente
lfarkas at bppiac.hu
Sun Aug 22 11:33:03 UTC 2004
hi,
it seems that fedora (redhat) can't make a final decision on kernel
source proper position. Arjan do you know what you/redhat wanna do? let
see what's happend:
- rename kernel-source to kernel-sourcecode. actualy it doesn't bother
me too much, but i don't see any reason for this. this just confuse
everyone.
- add the kernel headers to the kernel package. ok i understand your
reason for kernel module building, but i still don't know if most people
don't compile kernel module, than why you doule the kernel size for
them. what's more kernel update happends twiece a month in fc and for
those who have slower net access it just waste of time/size. why don't
you create a kernel-headers noarch rpm? and those who compile kernel can
use this.
- change the target to noarch. ok imho it's a reasonable anf good move
(seems to the only one).
- now you simple do NOT ship/build any source code rpm! did you ever ask
about it any REAL fc users? did you ever see/talk users who use fc or
even linux? eg.: redhat/fedora do not ship ntfs driver even when the
kernel contain it. suppose one need it. untill now:
- install kernel and kernel-source[code]
- update (yum, up2date...) update both when new version comes.
- rebuild ntfs module
or simple download the redhat/fedora ntfs driver rpm which has it own
web page, since you don't ship it.
but for any module which is not in the precompiled kernel they have to
now manualy download the kernel src.rpm (this can't be done trough the
nightly yum or other update process!) and compile it.
actulay i've got my kernel-update script which recompile ntfs, madwifi,
vmware driver etc.. even if i use the same madwifi driver for all
kernels. not to meantion if i boot the new kernel and the old wifi
driver is no longer working how can i download the kernel src.rpm from
the net without net access? and i'm sure everyone forget at least once
this. i still can compile my drivers, but everyone can do so? do you
think it's the right solution.
let's see from the windows users point of view. they simple install the
given driver and never ever has to "recompile". one can say, it's the
problem of the kernel module version, but i still can't convince my
friends about linux. he still would like to use there wifi driver,
webcamera, irda port for gprs etc... which are simple working or has to
work a lot to be able manualy start them. so it still seems to me that i
can use fedora, but the user joe won't have use fedora as a desktop for
a few years. it's not usable for any nonstandard endusers. and these
problems are much more important (at least on the desktop part) than
selinux, which mailer or broser to use, encrypted fs or other such
problems if one of our goal is the desktop market. or we can declare
that fedora/linux is still for servers and andvanced users' desktop.
--
Levente "Si vis pacem para bellum!"
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