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Tutorial on Linux Device Drivers

Posted by Hemos on from the but-it-still-won't-explain-winmodems dept.

vorsprung directed my attention span of a gnat to Linux Device Drivers Demystified, an interesting tutorial giving an overview of Linux device drivers (No kidding). As well, they've got devtective, a search facility to check any (Surprise!) devices you want to check to see if they are supported currently. Lastly, for those of you who really want to get into it, read the review of Linux Device Drivers.

1 of 29 comments (clear)

  1. New Revision of Device Driver Book Needed by Amoeba+Protozoa · · Score: 5

    I own the "Linux Device Drivers" by Alessandro Rubini. It is a good book for learning the (somewhat) confusing driver interface under Linux. However, I think a new revision of this book is needed to address things like:

    • Operating within an SMP environment.
    • Programming to the new APIs, such as:
    • ISDN4Linux
    • Video4Linux
    • I2O
    • Dare I say, USB
    • Insert your favorite new API here.

    Tuning your device drivers; specific hints for character drivers, block drivers, and net drivers.

    A special section devoted to writing and maintaining a kernel version independant, mostly binary, device driver (for more closed companies). This could yield a wider base of companies that support Linux, as they don't want to, "give away the family jewels."

    What we need is the definitive guide. A portable, referrable, assemblance of all Linux device driver knowledge to promote the growth and acceptance of Linux as an O/S in the buisness and even the hobbiest communities. Such a book would also raise the bar for performance within the average driver-- something which would help Linux win those benchmark tests. To support this argument, approach your favorite monolithic hardware manufacturer and ask him what tools they are using to support Linux into the future. If they answer with:

    You can see there is a definite need. I would hope that Alan Cox and Donald Becker would be contributing authors.

    If I could write, and could write good enough driver code, I would do it myself.

    -AP