Re: Availability of kdb

From: Miles Lane (miles@speakeasy.org)
Date: Mon Sep 11 2000 - 14:02:12 EST


On Mon, 11 Sep 2000, Jeff V. Merkey wrote:

>
>
> "Theodore Y. Ts'o" wrote:
>
> >
> > If you come up with robust, easy to patch source-code-level debugger for
> > Linux, some people will use it, and some people won't. If it's better
> > than kdb, eventually it'll displace kdb as the external kernel debugger
> > of choice. As with all things, the cardinal rule in this community
> > still applies: "show me the code".
> >
> > - Ted
>
> Thanks Ted. I know, but a kernel debugger is one of those nasty pieaces
> of software that can quickly get out of sync if it's maintained
> separately from the tree -- the speed at which changes occur in Linux
> would render it a very difficult project to maintain. If there's going
> to be one (whichever one it is) it would need to be maintained and
> dragged along with the kernel proper or it would be a maintenance
> nightmare. Linus' dislike of the kernel debugger concept would also

I agree with Ted. If your debugger is a highly effective, easy-to-use tool,
people will use it and help you with improving it. If the distributions
include it, then developers building software with "stable" kernels will
use it for checking code that interacts with their kernels in ways that
cause trouble. This would be very valuable.

This means you get to focus on supporting released kernels. This might be
a viable way for you to build a user base. This could eventually lead to
use with the development kernel and the growth of support for keeping
the debugger in sync with the kernel's architectural changes.

I am a Linux tester, not a kernel developer, so this is
"for what it's worth."

        Miles

> assure that it would not be considered in design decisions moving
> forward, which is probably the biggest disuader in the whole debate. I
> don't spend money on things I believe are destined to fail. Until Linus
> changes his mind, there's no point ...
>
> Jeff
> -
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