Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 17:22:32 +0200 From: Erik Trulsson <ertr1013@student.uu.se> To: Adam Stroud <adam@thegeeklord.com> Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: "Blob" and FreeBSD Message-ID: <20060329152232.GA10263@owl.midgard.homeip.net> In-Reply-To: <442A9DA0.9060703@thegeeklord.com> References: <442A9DA0.9060703@thegeeklord.com>
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On Wed, Mar 29, 2006 at 09:45:52AM -0500, Adam Stroud wrote: > I have been using both Open and Free BSD for a few years. Here is a > Quick question about FreeBSD and the use of third party closed source > binary drivers (known as "blob" to the OpenBSD community). I was just > doing some reading on the OpenBSD website about their views on third > closed source drivers (they are completely against them). Are the > FreeBSD developers/community also against the use of closed drivers? Most people involved with open source projects dislike closed drivers, and FreeBSD are no exception here. FreeBSD does however tend to take a somewhat more pragmatic approach then the OpenBSD people do, and do not absolutely refuse to use binary-only drivers if that is the only option available. > Are these type of drivers currently being used in FreeBSD? Yes. hptmv(4), nve(4) and ath_hal(4) are examples of drivers where a significant portion of the driver is only available as binary "blob." > Any > comments/pointers to relevant information would be greatly appreciated. -- <Insert your favourite quote here.> Erik Trulsson ertr1013@student.uu.se
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