3 ms·
> Hardware drivers is not their business, nor is releasing docs that might allow someone else to write a driver. Is there a third road to device support? What'
by ShroudedNight 9y ago
> Hardware drivers is not their business, nor is releasing docs that might allow someone else to write a driver.
Is there a third road to device support? What's the point of selling hardware if you're not going to provide any sort of path to enablement?
- throwaway2048 9y agoThis is a question that has puzzled linux devs for a long time. Why the hell release a linux only device, marketed at the DIY/hardcore user with no, or very limited ways to actually use the damn hardware? (like being stuck on some ancient kernels with 3.24x10^43 remote holes) Its pretty astonishing, and seems to be primarily driven over paranoia about IP/patents. After the answer a lawyer is always going to give to the question "Is there legal risk here" is yes, companies arnt going to do better until we demand they do.
- bluGill 9y agoI'm sure they release documentation - under NDA - to companies buying this. However the legalese probably makes it impossible to use those documents to release the source to a linux driver. Hackers like us are not a large market. Those who need a lot of CPUs for something that nobody even realizes has a CPU are ultimately a much larger market.