The Linux Incompatibility List

Jonathan Lassoff writes "The Linux Incompatibility list is a wiki project that attempts to document hardware that is incompatible with Linux rather than list what is compatible. In the wiki, it is possible to add alternitives so as to push hardware manufacturers to make good binary drivers, publish specifications, or even better, publish open drivers."

Comments

Re:Difficult to maintain?

[mikeyrb]

But I would call it a step forward. I would like to see integration of sites listing working drivers and a site like this, where we see what doesn't work. If you're out to purchase something new, you don't know if someone's tried it yet because sometimes you just can't find it listed. It'd be nice to see just one page, yes this works, or no this doesn't. Even better, you could then look at the whole list and pick one that works. Or in the nature of the new site, see one that works for one platform and hope for the best that it will work for yours soon. Oh, and after the /. effect dies out, the site should probably maintain well.

Good idea

[fishbowl]

I never got over the frustration with the Wireless compatability list. See, the list is well done, and has lots of cards, and people seem to be working hard on it. The problem is, you cannot use the list as a resource to help you purchase a card! Many of the cards listed as compatable are either discontinued, have been changed to incompatable chipsets without changing the product model info, or else were only ever available in some regions.

What I always wanted, instead of a long list of cards that are not available, was a short list of cards that will definitely work, together with addresses of vendors who will sell such a card with a written assurance that the product I receive will indeed work under linux.

I was very upset when I bought a Broadcom device, thinking I was buying a Prism2 device. Even when you think you know what you're doing, you can get burned.

Wikis need moderation

[tmk]

I have seen a project like this once before, it failed as foreseen. Someone put on a website, but he did not take much time to consider how users should and could use this list, how could it be updated and so on.

Another project on the same website was to find the best(!) linux distrubution in a wiki - you can see the result here. Do I have to mention that the best distribution was not found?

When you put on a wiki, you need clear questions and rules, you need moderators, who pick the useful infomation out of the chaos and set an reasonable structure for wiki readers and contributors.