[2476] in SIPB_Linux_Development
Re: Kernel interface changes (was Re: cdrecord problems on
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Kev)
Thu Feb 4 09:06:57 1999
To: Stephen Harris <sweh@mpn.com>
Cc: alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk (Alan Cox), efoo@MIT.EDU, warlord@MIT.EDU,
xiphmont@MIT.EDU, linux-kernel@vger.rutgers.edu, linux-dev@MIT.EDU,
jered@MIT.EDU, nemo@MIT.EDU, linux-scsi@vger.rutgers.edu,
cox@idecnet.com
In-Reply-To: Your message of "Thu, 04 Feb 1999 07:30:09 GMT."
<199902040730.HAA31679@nebula.mpn.com>
Date: Thu, 04 Feb 1999 09:06:30 EST
From: Kev <klmitch@MIT.EDU>
> > 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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