Arch Linux

Obi-Lan

Member

From: Finland

Registered: 2007-05-23

Posts: 179

Linux foundation statement against closed-source kernel drivers

They made statement that closed-source kernel modules or drivers are harmful (which they are):

https://www.linuxfoundation.org/en/Kern … _Statement

But whats more interesting that they said in phone interview that this statement is pointed primaly to Nvidia:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-9975720-64.html

What I think is "should I buy ATI next?"

kakTuZ

Member

From: Hannover, Germany

Registered: 2007-10-20

Posts: 86

Re: Linux foundation statement against closed-source kernel drivers

Nvidia: there is no need
http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=2588

jb

Member

From: 95% FL / 5% MI

Registered: 2006-06-22

Posts: 464

Re: Linux foundation statement against closed-source kernel drivers

Short version
=========

Linux Devs: Closed source Linux drivers are retarding our efforts.

Nvidia: Protecting our IP in this way overrides the problems it generates.

Last edited by jb (2008-06-25 16:51:23)

---

My roomates said they were going to get me rims for Christmas, or a CB radio so I can talk to other car beds; that'll be hot. Might get a stereo, too.  My sister said I should get an alarm.

peets

Member

From: Montreal

Registered: 2007-01-11

Posts: 936

Website

Re: Linux foundation statement against closed-source kernel drivers

What? ATI has open source drivers?

That work?

Last edited by peets (2008-06-25 16:17:10)

Issh

Member

Registered: 2007-12-02

Posts: 58

Re: Linux foundation statement against closed-source kernel drivers

yes aparently, i have no problems with nvidia drivers

czar

Member

Registered: 2008-03-08

Posts: 115

Re: Linux foundation statement against closed-source kernel drivers

I think ATI just announced that they will be releasing open source drivers i don't know if that happened yet.

Obi-Lan

Member

From: Finland

Registered: 2007-05-23

Posts: 179

Re: Linux foundation statement against closed-source kernel drivers

http://www.linux.com/feature/119049

As it says, ATI may not be able to publish their current proprietary drivers as a open source but they are making specifications of their GPU public. I think this means that open source community needs to write opensource driver by their self with aid of amd/ati.

I wonder if there will be a day where xorg automatically detects your ATI card and gives full 3D acceleration without any fuss.

Redroar

Member

Registered: 2008-03-17

Posts: 200

Re: Linux foundation statement against closed-source kernel drivers

See, I'm torn between the 'We make good drivers, so who cares if they are closed source' and the 'we make crappy drivers, but we're too lazy to make good ones. Would it be cheaper to just toss out card specs to all those people with way too much time so they'll do it?' views of Nvidia and ATI respectively. I mean, open sourcing them certainly could not hurt the end user. But if it contains parts of their hardware they don't want their competitors to know about, I certainly understand where they are coming from.

Anyway, the Nvidia binaries kick ass on my machine, so I use them. I think that's all people should really think about.

---

Stop looking at my signature. It betrays your nature.

wuischke

Member

From: Suisse Romande

Registered: 2007-01-06

Posts: 630

Re: Linux foundation statement against closed-source kernel drivers

The open source driver for old ATI cards are good, although ATI didn't provide specs back then. (Mobility X700 experience). Apart from that, current Catalyst drivers are a lot better than in the past.

But that's OT. The actual point of avoiding closed source drivers like the plague is support and compatibility. You have a new kernel release? You are dependant on the manufacturer to provide a new driver release. The manufacturer decides not to support your hardware anymore? Well, stop updating your kernel or buy a new video card - you won't get new drivers and you don't have Open Source drivers available.

The usual arguments against closed source apply of course as well - if something is broken only the vendor can fix it (see Vista crashes due to Nvidia drivers and over 2 years with a vulnerability in the Nvidia Linux drivers) and if the vendor doesn't provide a binary for your system, you can't use it.

These are my reasons to avoid anything which needs closed source drivers, if possible, although I use Opera.

Redroar

Member

Registered: 2008-03-17

Posts: 200

Re: Linux foundation statement against closed-source kernel drivers

Yeah, well, the Nvidia drivers have always been excellent for me, unlike the fglrx drivers. Personally, I could care less about open source stuff. I use Arch because it works damn well. I use the nvidia binaries because they work damn well. If another OS were better than Arch, and it cost money, then I'd use it.

The idea behind something matters less to me than the quality of it. It's that simple. If nvidia starts releasing awful drivers, then I'll say that they should open source it. But they aren't releasing crappy drivers. And until they do, I have no problem.

---

Stop looking at my signature. It betrays your nature.