From owner-freebsd-current@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Aug 2 22:56:42 2007 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-current@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4E8D016A417 for ; Thu, 2 Aug 2007 22:56:42 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from bms@FreeBSD.org) Received: from out2.smtp.messagingengine.com (out2.smtp.messagingengine.com [66.111.4.26]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 1624813C428 for ; Thu, 2 Aug 2007 22:56:42 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from bms@FreeBSD.org) Received: from compute1.internal (compute1.internal [10.202.2.41]) by out1.messagingengine.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 53C38AEF4; Thu, 2 Aug 2007 18:56:41 -0400 (EDT) Received: from heartbeat2.messagingengine.com ([10.202.2.161]) by compute1.internal (MEProxy); Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:56:41 -0400 X-Sasl-enc: b59PR+1UTacV4rphfoOzhLy60F/XzNWv10lVdcOYstvV 1186095401 Received: from empiric.lon.incunabulum.net (82-35-112-254.cable.ubr07.dals.blueyonder.co.uk [82.35.112.254]) by mail.messagingengine.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id B9BC714309; Thu, 2 Aug 2007 18:56:40 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <46B26127.1060405@FreeBSD.org> Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2007 23:56:39 +0100 From: "Bruce M. Simpson" User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.4 (X11/20070630) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Jona Joachim References: <46B14894.8060408@tpnet.co.nz> <20070802235154.3d518c3d@localhost> In-Reply-To: <20070802235154.3d518c3d@localhost> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: "Marcos Biscaysaqu - ThePacific.net" , freebsd-current@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Atheros Open Hal X-BeenThere: freebsd-current@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Discussions about the use of FreeBSD-current List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:56:42 -0000 Jona Joachim wrote: > I asked some time if there was any interest in porting OpenHAL to > FreeBSD. See the archive of the -advocacy mailing list. > I don't think there is any interest. FreeBSD is using a proprietary > closed source driver, a so-called blob, for Atheros chipsets and they > feel comfortable with it. The leaders hardly ever discuss such > decisions. > I have to correct you on this point: the ath(4) driver source is freely available. I use this driver and I'm comfortable with it. If the use of the Atheros HAL is a necessary compromise to get vendor buy-in on the use of open source, so be it, at least for the present time. As you must be well aware, economic competition in the Wi-Fi segment of the semiconductor industry is tight, and vendors wish to see a return on their investment. Consider the example of the "One Laptop Per Child" project, who have had to make similarly contentious political decisions in their project with regards to Wi-Fi provision in their peoject; feel free to read their email archives. Are we as software developers in a position to deny users access to technology purely on the basis of an individual's preferred ideology, whilst failing to recognise the economic reality of the large amount of capital expenditure involved in hardware development? Whilst I do not agree 100% with either side of the argument, it strikes me as unreasonable that you misrepresent FreeBSD's interests and objectives here. You are very welcome to contribute a port of the OpenHAL to FreeBSD on your own terms and with your own effort; but perhaps it is a bit facetious to condemn the existing work as a "proprietary closed source driver" [sic], rather than offering to help port the OpenHAL if that is your stated interest -- or even presenting FreeBSD with a "fait accompli" to underline the point? Kind regards, BMS