Date: Fri, 06 Jul 2007 00:45:51 +0200 From: "Julian H. Stacey" <jhs@berklix.org> To: current@freebsd.org Subject: Code removal - Was Re: Future of the ie(4) driver Message-ID: <200707052245.l65MjpmR055403@fire.js.berklix.net> In-Reply-To: <200707051428.22766.jhb@freebsd.org> References: <200707051428.22766.jhb@freebsd.org>
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John Baldwin wrote:
> The ie(4) driver in 7.x has several issues. First of all, it has several
> compiler warnings that haven't been successfully fixed in several years and
> are currently just ignored. More importantly, it hasn't been updated to use
> more modern FreeBSD APIs like bus_space (still uses inb/outb) and SMPng
> locking. If someone is using this driver and is willing to test fixes for
> it, then it can be updated. If there isn't anyone who is using this driver
> and willing to test fixes, then it will be removed from the tree at some
> point in the future (say a month or two).
I reduced "cc: stable@freebsd.org, current@freebsd.org" to current@
& changed "Subject:" so as not to cross post this tangential reply.
( BTW I checked, I don't have any hardware that uses "ie" )
What's concerned me increasingly for some time, (& nothing personal
to any individual, (the above just a useful illustration ) is a
tendency in FreeBSD for developers to say:
~Unless anyone speaks in [time] I will discard [whatever]~
Then months later a new release is rolled, & months later users upgrade, &:
"Oh my god! they removed the XYZ I use ! ... Aargh!~
So when discarding, it seems best to adopt a policy to warn as
wide a user base as possible, not just developers.
Not just current@ or stable@ but at least all of hackers@.
Even then we risk hurting happy users of FreeBSD, eg
ISPs etc who just don't have time to read hackers@ every day.
Maybe FreeBSD should have a low bandwidth mail list, that managers
& busy admins could safely subscribe, so they get long warning
of functional removal ? Such things as eg 16 bit PCMCIA removal
(after 4.11 before 6.*) would have gone to such a list, etc.
Good PR to keep wider user base informed of planned removals,
& some otherwise unknowing users might then reply
"OK, I'll install current/ stable on a spare box, & give
developer(s) access, as I can't afford to lose functionality~
PS Analogy:
Opening programme in the "Hitch Hikers Guide To The Galaxy":
The plan to demolish Arthur's house. on display in locked basement,
The plan to demolish Earth, only filed on Alpha Centauri :-)
--
Julian Stacey. Munich Computer Consultant, BSD Unix C Linux. http://berklix.com
HTML mail unseen. Ihr Rauch=mein allergischer Kopfschmerz. Dump cigs 4 snuff.
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