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To: Pete Slagle <freebsd-stable@box559.com>
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Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 10:12:01 +0200
From: Danny Braniss <danny@cs.huji.ac.il>
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Cc: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org
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.

i agree 100%, i hate wizardy/black-magic, and this 'fix' falls in that
class. Why was a 5ton hammer used to fix non existing problem?
a small comment like 'you better keep these lines to make X happy'
would have sufficed.

my .5c, btw, im a happy freebsd user!

danny