Re: [gentoo-dev] Drivers/Portage

[Chris Bainbridge]

On Monday 19 July 2004 09:29, Martin Owens wrote:
> I think I ort to make myself a little clearer.
>
> it's not about auto detection / auto configuration. it's about information
> gathering and resources, sure auto configuration is an option at a much
> later stage but I'd much prefere a system that provides information to the
> usrs as a primary goal.
>
> The most important part is creating/generating unique id's for hardware
> that you can match the information up to. then if the system gets it wrong
> or dosn't have any information allowing the users to input new data
> (subject to review) which can then be used to expand and revise the
> information.

Gathering information in one place is imho the most useful thing. A livecd 
that boots, autodetects the hardware, looks it up all up on an online 
database with a web page for each bit of hardware where people discuss their 
successes or failures under linux and assign a compatibility rating, would be 
a very useful thing. I've wasted hours tracking down drivers for all my 
unusual hardware (game console stuff, 802.11 & bluetooth cards, cellphone, 
camera that isn't a usbmassstorage device etc.) and I'm sure I'm not the only 
one. Half the time when I buy accessories I have no idea whether they'll work 
under linux. 

You'll get plenty of people submitting info if its an open project (ie. they 
can get the info back, its not just to drive hits to your web site), and it 
works well.

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