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Linux Kernel Devs Offer Free Driver Development

Posted by kdawson on from the Nvidia-this-means-you dept.

schwaang writes "Linux Kernel hacker Greg Kroah-Hartman, author of Linux Kernel in a Nutshell has posted an epic announcement on his blog. This could portend increased device compatibility for Linux users, higher-quality drivers, and fewer non-free binary blobs." From the announcement: "[T]he Linux kernel community is offering all companies free Linux driver development... All that is needed is some kind of specification that describes how your device works, or the email address of an engineer that is willing to answer questions every once in a while. If your company is worried about NDA issues surrounding your device's specifications, we have arranged a program... in order to properly assure that all needed NDA requirements are fulfilled. Now your developers will have more time to work on drivers for all of the other operating systems out there, and you can add 'supported on Linux' to your product's marketing material."

3 of 348 comments (clear)

  1. Wonderful by ilovegeorgebush · · Score: 5, Interesting
    What an outstanding idea! I especially like this (from TFA):

    If your company is worried about NDA issues surrounding your device's specifications, we have arranged a program with OSDL/TLF's Tech Board to provide the legal framework where a company can interact with a member of the kernel community in order to properly assure that all needed NDA requirements are fulfilled.
    This is intelligent, it means they're covering their backs, and even more importantly the manufacturers haven't got an excuse!

    Is this realistic though? Are companies actually going to take this offer up? If they do, the impact could be awesome (hardware compatibility that could rival Windows and/or Mac OSX)...

    Nice one!
    --
    ilovegeorgebush
  2. Re:How many by BecomingLumberg · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I would disagree. Linux drivers are not made since they do not generate profit, largely due to the small user base verses the cost of developing the driver. If there is but a modest cost of a dev answering a few questions, it may be worth their while if it means shipping another 200 widgets.

    --
    If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.-TJ
  3. Re:How many by gjuk · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The key driver (pardon the pun) will not be how many extra widgets they sell but the the strategic importance to most companies of reducing reliance upon Microsoft's hegemony. If you are a widget developer, you do not want to be in the position of most, dancing to the unrestricted tune of Microsoft. You need some collective force to help push back on Microsoft when necessary, or to demonstrate the worth of new ideas which Microsoft may not have picked up on. Having a competitor to Microsoft (even quite a small one) is a massively powerful force in this.