Re: [PATCH 00/14] convert voyager over to the x86 quirks model

From: Ingo Molnar
Date: Sun Apr 19 2009 - 20:40:14 EST



* Jeff Garzik <jeff@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>> Regarding the new x86/Voyager submission: architecture or core
>> kernel level code always has a higher barrier of entry than
>> driver code for a number of good reasons:
>
> No, my point is that it is blatantly unfair to remove code, then
> reset standards for inclusion far, far higher than at which it
> left the tree.

Oh, i'm all for including new code optimistically. (in fact i'm
probably a bit over-inclusive)

But i'm not at all for easily re-including known problematic code
that has been removed. Including known problematic code under the
same standard as removal i'd call 'very stupid'.

IMO it is a fundamentally good engineering practice to learn from
past experience and to learn from past mistakes and to require a
higher standard if an old standard failed to produce an acceptable
result first time around.

_Especially_ so for such an extremely obsolete piece of hardware
with a single upstream user+developer and a dismal upstream track
record ... We really have to learn to say 'no' at a certain point
...

I dont care about Voyager that much - but i do care about not doing
stupid things intentionally in the code i (co-)maintain.

Anyway, as i said it in the previous mail - in the end it's up to
Linus and he can override our NAK if we are wrong about it.

Ingo
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