3 ms·

You still cannot distribute those modules AND the kernel on the same "package", though.

by AshamedCaptain 2y ago

anthk 2y ago
That's why I hate DKMS. A true libre kernel would never need to use that.
- mardifoufs 2y ago
  And a true, completely libre kernel wouldn't have been used by anyone. DKMS exists for a reason, it's a good, non dogmatic compromise. Linux makes a lot of those compromises that make it easier to use in/with proprietary environments.
  - anthk 2y ago
    If you don't care about freedom then step out and just use MacOS with Macports. For actual freedom, Linux-Libre it's a must. May I remind anyone the disaster of Mediatek and most SOCs with propietary drivers which are bound to old kernel releases and they became useless bricks over time, even with PostMarketOS? Or the infamous GMA500/Poulsbo, where even 2D acceleration it's missing. IDK it even supports modesettings thru KMS/DRM. Inb4 'these are old machines, nearly useless', my n270 atom netbook still runs Luakit like a champ and it supports GL 2.1, enough for tons of tasks. On top of that, with ZRAM the GB of RAM now holds far more data than it did back in the day.
    - mardifoufs 2y ago
      I don't disagree with any of that. I'm saying that normal Linux doesn't want to optimize for free as in freedom/libre, it wants to be a usable and modern kernel. The license it uses helps it with doing that, but Linus has been clear that the project doesn't care about much more than that. It's sad but it is a tradeoff. I wish it wasn't and that most hardware and software was "libre", but that's not the case so there's a trade off to be made.
- AshamedCaptain 2y ago
  Out-of-kernel-tree modules are still useful even if they are exactly the same license. I don't know what's with this tendency of having to put everything under the same umbrella. My modules will never get merged with Linux and I have no intention of doing so, but it is perfectly legal to distribute them with Linux (both are GPLv2). DKMS still helps to manage the mess that is the lack of a stable ABI for Linux.

You still cannot distribute those modules AND the kernel on the same "package", though.

anthk 2y ago

That's why I hate DKMS. A true libre kernel would never need to use that.

mardifoufs 2y ago
And a true, completely libre kernel wouldn't have been used by anyone. DKMS exists for a reason, it's a good, non dogmatic compromise. Linux makes a lot of those compromises that make it easier to use in/with proprietary environments.
- anthk 2y ago
  If you don't care about freedom then step out and just use MacOS with Macports. For actual freedom, Linux-Libre it's a must. May I remind anyone the disaster of Mediatek and most SOCs with propietary drivers which are bound to old kernel releases and they became useless bricks over time, even with PostMarketOS? Or the infamous GMA500/Poulsbo, where even 2D acceleration it's missing. IDK it even supports modesettings thru KMS/DRM. Inb4 'these are old machines, nearly useless', my n270 atom netbook still runs Luakit like a champ and it supports GL 2.1, enough for tons of tasks. On top of that, with ZRAM the GB of RAM now holds far more data than it did back in the day.
  - mardifoufs 2y ago
    I don't disagree with any of that. I'm saying that normal Linux doesn't want to optimize for free as in freedom/libre, it wants to be a usable and modern kernel. The license it uses helps it with doing that, but Linus has been clear that the project doesn't care about much more than that. It's sad but it is a tradeoff. I wish it wasn't and that most hardware and software was "libre", but that's not the case so there's a trade off to be made.
AshamedCaptain 2y ago
Out-of-kernel-tree modules are still useful even if they are exactly the same license. I don't know what's with this tendency of having to put everything under the same umbrella. My modules will never get merged with Linux and I have no intention of doing so, but it is perfectly legal to distribute them with Linux (both are GPLv2). DKMS still helps to manage the mess that is the lack of a stable ABI for Linux.