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That's a fun map. The Linux kernel has more device drivers embedded in the core than I anticipated. I'm guessing most are used for bootstrapping/fallback (e.g.

That's a fun map. The Linux kernel has more device drivers embedded in the core than I anticipated. I'm guessing most are used for bootstrapping/fallback (e.g. loading the "actual" drivers)? Such as ext4, ipw2100, ac97, i8042, etc. Just to be clear, I'd imagine most of the above are common enough to have on almost all but the most niche Linux distributions. My question relates around having them this high up in the source tree, rather than why they're useful/what they do.

KindOne 9y ago
The map is at least 8+ years old. https://www.linux.com/blog/interactive-map-linux-kernel https://www.linux.com/blog/interactive-map-linux-kernel (2009)
- BlackLotus89 9y ago
  It's 2007 (see the image). First version on archive.org is 2008. I would add a (2007) to the title
angelsl 9y ago
What do you mean "embedded in the core"? All drivers are in-tree.
- exikyut 9y ago
  Technically unmodularizable Architecturally integrated into everyone's "this is part of the kernel and not a random printer driver" mental model
- megous 9y ago
  Not all driver are there, of course. Many are out of tree.
megous 9y ago
The map is simply incomplete, so it only lists some sample of the network card drivers there, otherwise it would be a mess.
yitchelle 9y ago
I wonder how many of these device drivers are for old devices that are not available anymore; Therefore, they can be considered as dead code. Do they have an annual culling of devices drivers?
- tjoff 9y ago
  Just because you can't buy them doesn't mean they aren't still used.