Re: Kernel interface changes (was Re: cdrecord problems on

Kev (klmitch@MIT.EDU)
Thu, 04 Feb 1999 09:06:30 EST

> > If you want to make this work even better run a lot of 2.0 binaries on 2.2,
> > check they all still work. If not find out why. Similarly people should be
>
> I don't understand why Linux is taking so much flack here. Going from 2.0
> to 2.2 is a MAJOR CHANGE. Hell, even Solaris 2.4 programs don't run properly
> under Solaris 2.6 (and not even under 2.5.1 - try out the Lotus Notes 4.0
> client, for example).

This thread isn't about going from 2.0 to 2.2; it's about going from
2.0.33 to 2.0.34. In the past, changes such as this caused major
compatibility headaches; this must be prevented from happening in the
future if Linux expects to get anywhere.

> Even with the ..x patches, the user has a choice; backwards compatibility with
> BUGS, or a bugless mode with the possibility of an unfortunate binary side
> effect. Heh, Alan, for each of your patches have a kernel compile configuration
> option "enable XYZ bug mode for compatibility" :-)

Again, this isn't what has happened in the past; people have *reordered*
*structure* *members*. This isn't fixing a bug! This is randomly and
gratuitously breaking binary compatibility *in* *a* *stable* *release*
for no benefit! THIS is what must stop happening if Linux expects to
get anywhere.

> And anyway, this isn't linux-scsi related...

Actually, this whole thread started because one developer I know kept
getting the SCSI interface changed out from under him, again, *in* *a*
*stable* *release*; therefore, it is certainly linux-scsi related.

-- 
Kevin L. Mitchell <klmitch@mit.edu>
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