• EverybodyLovesEricRaymond
• BinaryOnlyModules

Linux in a binary world... a doomsday scenario

Recent discussion flared up on lkml after Arjan van de Ven's post about binary only modules:

Linux in a binary world What if.. what if the linux kernel developers tomorrow accept that binary modules are OK and are essential for the progress of linux. a hypothetical doomsday scenario by Arjan van de Ven http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-kernel&m=113378006232564&w=2

• Intel considering binary only drivers too
• DRM

• "incrementally reduces the userbase of newer releases" - http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-kernel&m=113378534402859&w=2

• PPP MPPE made it in too: http://kernel.org/git/?p=linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux-2.6.git;a=commit;h=b3f9b92a6ec1a9a5e4b4b36e484f2f62cc73277c

  • should this be binary-only to prevent embarrassment?
• ndiswrapper
• Xorg - Official method for determining modular X module path?" on Xorg's mailing-list
• nvidia fanboy
• RHEL and SLES kernel binary-only for several servers
• move secret stuff to firmware
  • ati ship 3 line driver with a 35MB fireware containing a full linux kernel, ndiswrapper and their windows vxd?

• "Remember that the only distinction between EXPORT_SYMBOL() and EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL() is that the latter is a technological measure to prevent abuse." - http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-kernel&m=113381768620864&w=2

• PPC architecture dies
• end of linux world scenario, armageddon
  • John Wyndham
  • zombies
  • 28 days later
  • zombie happy because he can play tux racer at high framerate
• don't buy hardware from binary-only shippers

  • http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-kernel&m=113383205428528&w=2

  • "Once again I'd like to point out that user's purchase power means jack when they only have two choices for video" - http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-kernel&m=113387710826130&w=2

• linux certified

  • http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-kernel&m=113385789426601&w=2

  • http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-kernel&m=113386088229420&w=2

• Linus the pragmatist - http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-kernel&m=113386405920679&w=2

  • hilarious scenarios where Linus makes a pragmatic decision, but harms lots of people

• "make me root" ioctl - http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-kernel&m=113386962913024&w=2

• "fundamentalist GPL terrorist"
• ATI/NVidia developers having to code directly in binary
• ESR loves the robot future because he gets to shoot stuff

Script idea 1

dark barren desert, fire and smoke.  caption: "It is the year 2015, 10 years after Linux kernel developers decide that binary-only modules are essential for the future of the project"

more desert, gnu bones and stuff.  caption "Humankind has been enslaved by Linux powered robots.  Freedom and democracy are things of the past."

tux racer screen shot showing 800fps with ATI logo on screen.  caption "But at least it was worth it"

Script idea 2

caption: NVIDIA didn't quite understand the process of creating "Binary Only" linux kernel modules"
pane: NVIDIA job advert.  Vacancy for 3 machine code programmers to start asap.  Must be able to type quickly.

Comments

ciaran: Gnu bones instead of cow.