Re: Case Study: Migrating drivers from Linux to a Micro-Kernel OS.

• Previous message: Michael Heiming: "Re: Case Study: Migrating drivers from Linux to a Micro-Kernel OS."
• In reply to: Mike Cox: "Case Study: Migrating drivers from Linux to a Micro-Kernel OS."
• Next in thread: Rob Hughes: "Re: Case Study: Migrating drivers from Linux to a Micro-Kernel OS."
• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]

Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 01:59:35 +0100

Mike Cox wrote:
>
> Using the example of a gigabit network controller, the study
> demonstrates how an existing Linux-developed driver can be migrated
> QNX Neutrino while preserving up to 80 percent of the original
> software code development."

Even if that might be technically possible it might
not be legal. You could run into license problems.
At least if what you want to do is taking a driver
from Linux, which might very well be covered by the
GPL, and release a derivated version as a closed
source driver for another OS.

A micro kernel might sound nice from a theoretical
point of view. But I have yet to see the real world
cases where Linux have any shortcommings compared to
a micro kernel.

About those claimed copyright violations in Linux,
I don't believe it. I have not seen any evidence
that there would be any more infringing code in
Linux than in any other system. Quite the contrary.
Seems like lots of people have been stealing GPL
code for closed source products lately. It is easier
to get away with it when you put something in a
closed source product where few people will be able
to see the actual code.

Every line of code in Linux can be accounted for. If
any line of code was really infringing on anything
we can find out who contributed it.

Also the amount of code you could possibly steal is
smaller when writing open source products. As most
developers don't have access to huge libraries of
closed sources. OTOH developers of of closed source
products can access every open source product out
there.

Those are my opinions on that matter. Some of it
have been said before by other people, but I wouldn't
repeat it here if I didn't have reason to believe it.

-- 
Kasper Dupont -- der bruger for meget tid paa usenet.
For sending spam use mailto:aaarep@daimi.au.dk
/* Would you like fries with that? */

• Previous message: Michael Heiming: "Re: Case Study: Migrating drivers from Linux to a Micro-Kernel OS."
• In reply to: Mike Cox: "Case Study: Migrating drivers from Linux to a Micro-Kernel OS."
• Next in thread: Rob Hughes: "Re: Case Study: Migrating drivers from Linux to a Micro-Kernel OS."
• Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]