Re: Bull*** !

From: Grant Edwards (grante_at_visi.com)
Date: 09/13/04 

Date: 13 Sep 2004 14:45:33 GMT

On 2004-09-13, Jeff Relf <Usenet_2_@JeffRelf.Cotse.NET> wrote:

> If the protocol is documented and the hardware actually
> works, I would guess 8-16 hours. >>
>
> Bull*** ! You are Not a programmer.

Correct. I'm a software engineer. I've spent year writing and
maintaining Linux device drivers for a living.

> It would take 40 to 80 hours to do a half-reasonable hack job.

Bah. Only if you're imcompetent. All you need to do is modify
the protocol handling a bit. It's not like you're starting
from scratch -- the mouse driver works find except for handling
the tilt-wheel part of the protocol.

> Even then, you'd have to ask yourself:
>
> If it's so damn easy to write a driver for
> Microsoft's tilt-wheel mice
> how come _ No _ one on
> this God-damned planet has done it ? !

Because tilt-wheel mice are new, and nobody has wanted a driver
bad enough to write one (or pay sombody else to do so)?

[What's with the goofy line lengths? Inventing some sort of
new form of poetry?]

> Further, how come Linux doesn't have a driver
> for my Trackball Explorer ?

Because nobody has wanted one bad enough to write one (or pay
somebody else to do so).

> As a professional programmer,
> I've been using mice ever since the start of 1982...
>
> And I've written drivers too.

Then stop whining and write a driver for your beloved Trackball
Explorer.

> And I think the Trackball Explorer is the best pointing
> device ever invented.

Then write a driver for it.

> Yet Linux ignores that, along with nearly every other device
> sold at places like Office Depot.

You write of "Linux" as if it's a single organization headed by
a dictatorial bully who won't listen to government or customer
input. No, wait, that's Microsoft.

If you _use_ Linux, you _are_ Linux. There is no driver
because you haven't written one. 

-- 
Grant Edwards                   grante             Yow!  It's hard being
                                  at               an ARTIST!!
                               visi.com