Re: Linux driver for Realtek RTL8723AU devices with USB ID 0bda:1724such as found in Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13

[Larry Finger]

On 05/08/2013 11:23 AM, Greg KH wrote:
> On Wed, May 08, 2013 at 11:06:44AM -0500, Larry Finger wrote:
> > On 05/07/2013 09:32 PM, H. Peter Anvin wrote:
> > > So I can verify that this driver works against 3.8.11 (not against
> > > current -linus because of a build failure), and yes, there is Bluetooth
> > > in this device.  In fact, it seems to work better than some in-tree
> > > drivers I have seen in the past.
> > >
> > > However, I'm confused as to the above and what it implies for the
> > > purpose of the staging tree.  Wasn't the whole point of the staging tree
> > > to have a working-but-ugly driver upstream and have the work to clean it
> > > up happen in the mainline tree instead of off somewhere.
> >
> > Yes, but even staging has some standards.
>
> I have standards?  That's a first :)
>
> > For example, they frown on inclusion of firmware in a massive data
> > block in a file in the driver - it should be in a separate file the
> > /lib/firmware/ tree.
>
> Sure, that would be "nice", but it's not something that I should reject
> a driver for, have I done that?

No. You merely "recommended" that it be the #1 item in the TODO list, which 
forced me to fix it fairly quickly for r8712u.

> > In addition, the mainline drivers/net/wireless/ tree is only available
> > to devices that use mac80211 for the software-based MAC layer. That
> > conversion is a serious effort that may never be done, thus the
> > 8723au driver may never leave staging.
>
> That's a bigger deal, but note, some drivers have done it, it is not
> impossible.

Most of them were in the kernel before mac80211, and have been given a pass as 
part of a "grandfather" clause.

Unfortunately, I forgot the main reason for development in an off-line repo. I 
do not have one of these devices, and I have drawn the line at purchasing a 
$1000 Lenovo tablet just to get one. Making "small" untested changes in the 
off-line repo for the users to verify is a lot simpler than working through 
staging, no matter how accommodating you are. :)

If someone wants to donate a device, that would speed up the process.

Larry

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