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Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 15:22:09 -0800
From: Pete Slagle <freebsd-stable@box559.com>
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Subject: Re: GENERIC and DEFAULTS
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>> I've seen that 'GENERIC' file has been modified, moving some lines to
>> 'DEFAULTS':
>>
>> device          isa
>>
>> device          mem             # Memory and kernel memory devices    
>> device          io              # I/O device
>>
>> Why?
>> What does it mean? Should we include 'DEFAULTS' in our customized 
>> 'GENERIC'?
>> Or those lines are no more mandatory?
>>
> 
> No, you don't need to include 'DEFAULTS', config(8) will take care of 
> that for you.
> 
> http://docs.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?200510271713.j9RHDNTo013082
> 
> AFAICT, this was done in order to automatically include devices which 
> are essential in most cases so less experienced users won't accidentally 
> break their systems and later complain that e.g. X doesn't work anymore.

The whole mechanism seems like an obvious POLA violation.  All the more 
so without a note in UPDATING.

Personally, I prefer less automated "help."  In general, it might be 
better to encourage those who need a nanny to run Windows, leaving 
FreeBSD unencumbered for those who don't.  IMHO.