Re: Why not make Linux source modular?

Dan Miner (dminer@nyx.net)
Mon, 26 Feb 1996 11:38:19 -0700 (MST)

According to cs95rro@brunel.ac.uk:
>
> My point is this: Why is Linux kernel source distributed as one big lump?

I agree with this.

> Many of the drivers could be distributed seperatly as modules, such as file
> system drivers, some Networking protocols, Net cards etc... and have different
> people maintaining them. Ftape already does this, and it works. (Although
> he is mumbling about integrating it with the kernel...)

I believe the arch directories are a good place too. I have no use for
the PPC stuff but I'm stuff downloading it. It would be nice if it was
something like:

linux-<version>-common.tar.gz
linux-<version>-i386.tar.gz
linux-<version>-alpha.tar.gz
etc.
linux-<version>-scsi-aha1542.tar.gz
linux-<version>-scsi-buslogic.tar.gz
etc.
linux-<version>-net-generic.tar.gz
linux-<version>-net-wd.tar.gz
linux-<version>-net-3com.tar.gz
etc.

You get the idea. For home, I'd only need the common, i386, and net-generic
for my system [using this example].

> Just an idea... ,'/

I think it is a good one. At one time, I stored my kernel sources on *1*
floppy. You can't do it anymore. :) [4megs for the latest source]

-- 
Dan Miner					dminer@nyx.cs.du.edu
	"The longer I stare at this screen; the blanker it gets."
						Linux: try it, you'll like.
"Your program is encoded in pi."		I started with a 64