Fwd: Re: Devfs implementation.
Dylan Griffiths (Dylan_G@bigfoot.com)
Sun, 20 Jun 1999 21:11:00 -0600
>
> Date: Sun, 20 Jun 1999 21:10:07 -0600
> To: Horst von Brand <vonbrand@sleipnir.valparaiso.cl>
> From: Dylan Griffiths <Dylan_G@bigfoot.com>
> Subject: Re: Devfs implementation.
>
> At 09:54 19/06/1999 -0400, you wrote:
> >The problem with devfs, IMVHO, is that it solves the _easy_ half of the
> >problem. The _hard_ part is permission management (includes persistence,
> >default permissions, etc). And at least default permission management is
> >_policy_ and DOES NOT belong into the kernel.
>
> In the same way we currently ship distributions with literally hundreds of
> default permissions on /dev files, would it not be simply easier to have such
> permissions standardized based on device type and encoded in the devfs
> driver?
>
> >Sure, the current way of creating entries in /dev for 8 IDE disks (or is it
> >16 now?) and assorted SCSI devices is dumb, but it has the virtue that
> >permissions (even for now-nonexistent devices that might appear tomorrow)
> >are handled by exactly the same mechanisms and tools as everywhere else.
> >Plus it shouldn't be hard to write a script that cleans out what isn't used.
>
>
> As above, if there are reasonable default permissions that do not change,
> would it not be beneficial to simply include that information as a part of
> the driver, and solve a few more problems?
>
> >OTOH, it is not exactly a hundred times daily that I add a device. To mess
> >with everything else just for the sake of making an operation the average
> >user does _once_ easier is ridiculous.
>
> See firewire, USB, etc. Making things easier for the user is the purpose of
> computers! Saying that computers shouldn't be used as tools is a completely
> facetious argument. You or I might enjoy all the intricacies of a computer,
> but they are merely means to an end for users. I, myself, do not accept
> defeat easily when dealing with computers. However, I have seen how the
> average user (or miss-user) of computers works. Linux will not become
> accepted beyond niche applications by them unless it is easy. By your
> argument, we should have stereos allow us (and require us) to custom wire up
> speakers for absolute best sound, instead of using standardized interfaces
> (like RCA jacks).
===========
Dylan Griffiths
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