Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2002 14:09:19 -0800 From: Terry Lambert <tlambert2@mindspring.com> To: Doug Rabson <dfr@nlsystems.com> Cc: Daniel Eischen <eischen@pcnet1.pcnet.com>, "M. Warner Losh" <imp@bsdimp.com>, ataraxia@cox.net, current@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: [PATCH] note the __sF change in src/UPDATING Message-ID: <3DCD878F.1669D78B@mindspring.com> References: <Pine.GSO.4.10.10211091114160.15854-100000@pcnet1.pcnet.com> <200211091738.33940.dfr@nlsystems.com>
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Doug Rabson wrote:
> The kernel ABI is hopeless. It changes almost daily :-(. At one time, I
> thought I could change this but these days, I don't think anyone except
> me cares about having a stable ABI in the kernel.
I care. It's almost the most important thing to be able to build
anything of value.
But a stable API is required for a stable ABI. It does absolutely
no good to build a cathedral, if, by the time you are done, the
roads have moved so that there is no road which leads to it.
The next most important thing is to document it, so that people
can use it. "All coordinates are expressed in logitude and
lattitute. North is that way. No cows are permitted in the city
limits. All cats and dogs which are uncollared and tagged will be
captured and spayed and neutered".
If you can't agree on a coordinate system ("OLDCARD? NEWCARD?
REDCARD? BLUECARD?"), then at least agree to get rid of data
interfaces; today, people are adding to them with sysctl exposured
of structs, as if it's not going to be a problem. It's a problem.
It's one thing to say "The cathedral is a about a mile yonder of of
Johnson's barn, just down the road a piece from Smithy, which is
about a league yonder, and then follow the creek for a spell", and
something else entirely to say "The cathedral is at 117 East 32st
street; this is 12421 West 1st street".
-- Terry
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