From owner-freebsd-hackers Fri Jul 12 15:28:32 1996 Return-Path: owner-hackers Received: (from root@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) id PAA23041 for hackers-outgoing; Fri, 12 Jul 1996 15:28:32 -0700 (PDT) Received: from etinc.com ([204.141.95.6]) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id PAA23032 for ; Fri, 12 Jul 1996 15:28:29 -0700 (PDT) Received: from dialup-usr11.etinc.com (dialup-usr11.etinc.com [204.141.95.132]) by etinc.com (8.6.12/8.6.9) with SMTP id SAA14762; Fri, 12 Jul 1996 18:32:16 -0400 Date: Fri, 12 Jul 1996 18:32:16 -0400 Message-Id: <199607122232.SAA14762@etinc.com> X-Sender: dennis@etinc.com X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Version 2.0.3 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" To: Terry Lambert From: dennis@etinc.com (Dennis) Subject: Re: Kernel Config (Was: GENERIC Kernel Debate) Cc: hackers@freebsd.org Sender: owner-hackers@freebsd.org X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk Terry articulates.... >> > > > I think we all ultimately want the all-singing, all-dancing loadable >> > > > kernel modules with PnP detection and auto config of devices while >> > > > simultaneously selecting proper drivers for compatible hardware while >> > > > working around all known incompatibilites. >> > > >> > > Not all of us do. At least one of us wants a really fast, really reliable >> > > system that makes extremely efficient use of its hardware environment. I >> > > suspect that that's not quite compatible with all-singing, all-dancing. >> > > Maybe, but I'm sceptical. >> ^ my spelling for one thing :-) >> >> > What in particular are you skeptical about? Maybe I can allay some >> > of your fears... >> >> >> I've never yet seen an operating system de-bloat. I've never yet seen more >> complicated more maintainable than less complicated. I've never yet seen >> "I'll have this examine the hardware and determine _exactly_ what it is >> and what the user _intends_ to be done with it" work correctly all the >> time. I keep waiting for DWIM, but I'm not holding my breath. > >I believe it is a technology issue related to fractal complexity >of software problem soloutions. > >To un-technobabble that, "it has to get harder before it can get easier". > >The absolute minimal interface for support of boot-critical devices >for everything but network interfaces is a BIOS interface. Network >interfaces can be handled as server (protected mode) ODI, or NDIS >(driver disks come with every interface card). CDROM can be handled >with MSCDEX (again, driver disks come with every interface card and/or >standard interface drive). [etc, etc.] at 7 bucks a meg...who cares? Dennis ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Emerging Technologies, Inc. http://www.etinc.com Synchronous Communications Cards and Routers For Discriminating Tastes. 56k to T1 and beyond. Frame Relay, PPP, HDLC, and X.25 for BSD/OS, FreeBSD and LINUX