Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 09:57:25 +0100 From: Nik Clayton <nik@freebsd.org> To: hackers@freebsd.org Subject: Task for -doc newbie / XML'ing LINT. . . Message-ID: <20000406095725.D62492@catkin.nothing-going-on.org>
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Hi,
[ sent to -doc, where it's on topic.
Sent to -stable, where there's been much discussion of the docs
recently. If anyone's got any energy left from that they could usefully
expend it on this.
Sent to -hackers, where the last chunk about XML is on topic, and will
probably get me lynched. . .
Follow-ups *not* set, as depending on which bits you reply to might
make it more appropriate for one list or another. ]
If anyone's looking for a relatively simple, but quite involving task. . .
Update section 2.3 of the Handbook, "Supported Hardware". In particular,
for each piece of hardware I'd like to know
* The name of the hardware (which we already have, pretty much)
* The category ("Disk Controller", "NIC", "USB", "ISDN", "Serial",
"Mice", "Scanners", Other. . .)
* The name of the driver/kernel config entry it's associated with
* A URL for a page on the manufacturer's website that describes the
product (if it exists).
* Other URLs of interest (for example, if someone else has a page up
that explains how to use this device with FreeBSD).
* Assorted notes about the product
What would be particularly useful is if we can get this information in
a queryable form (XML, rah rah rah). We could then
* Convert it to DocBook for inclusion in the Handbook
* Build something much like the BSDI's website "Supported Hardware"
section, where you can search for your hardware, and it gives you
back lots of info about the device.
[ OK, I'm pushing the boat out big time on this one, and it'll probably
get shot down, but what the hell ]
* Use this as *documentation in the source tree* to build chunks of
the LINT config file.
Imagine, for example, src/sys/pci/DRIVERS.xml, which looked something
like (and I'm doodling on the back of an envelope at the moment)
<controller>
<type>pci</type>
<device>
<type>NIC</type>
<name>fxp</name>
<descr>EtherExpress Pro/10, Pro/100B, Pro/100+ Fast Ethernet
adapters, based on the Intel i82557 or i82559
chipsets.</descr>
</device>
<device>
[ ... ]
</device>
<option>
<name>PCI_QUIET</name>
<descr>quiets PCI code on chipset settings</descr>
</option>
</controller>
LINT would then become some boiler plate text for things we don't
want to describe this way, plus the output of a process which takes
the above and turns it into a config(8) style file.
When you add a new driver, update the .xml file(s) as necessary. Next
time LINT is built it contains the appropriate text, next time the
Handbook is built it lists the device as supported. . .
Thoughts?
N
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