Re: DEVFSv50 and /dev/fb? (or /dev/fb/? ???)

Richard Gooch (Richard.Gooch@atnf.CSIRO.AU)
Thu, 6 Aug 1998 21:24:54 +1000


Anthony Barbachan writes:
> >
> >Fine, you don't like the new naming scheme. That's why the old names
> >are still there. If you are deeply wedded to the old names, you are
> >welcome to them. I'm not *forcing* you to use the new naming
> >scheme. Go ahead and use the old names.
> >
>
> Actually you are. This is like saying that the new C++ standard
> doesn't force one to use new style casts and gratuitous templates.
> Sure the old device name (old style casts) are still there, for now,
> but "depricated". One may choose not to use them but everybody else
> will and consequently one will eventually have to deal with them.
> And most new systems will use devfs if it is part of the kernel
> simply because its the new thing. Everything does not need a new
> naming sceme, change only what needs to be changed like SCSI.

By that argument you should never introduce something new because
people will be "forced" to use the new thing.

> >Again, just use the old names: I didn't take tham away.
> >
> >> We need to keep the "KISS" principle in mind. While the naming scheme
> >> of dev_fs may be logical it is not simple.
> >>
> >> /dev/sda, /dev/sda[1-15] is simple.
> >
> >And you can keep using it.
>
> Probably not for long if devfs is added.

This could only happen if there was widespread support in the Linux
community. It would also require a push. I have no plans for such a
push. Also, support for the plain major&minor disc-based device nodes
will remain (for POSIX compatibility), so you can create device nodes
with whatever name you like.
You can even set CONFIG_DEVFS_FS to 'n'.

> >> Richard, I have read your FAQ where the naming scheme for SCSI disks
> >> is described and it screams "ugly".
> >
> >So ignore the new names and keep using the old names. Nothing in your
> >message talks about devfs itself, you're only addressing the minor
> >issue of naming, which is in fact not a problem.
>
> I think the verbosely cryptic naming sceme of the current devfs is the only
> real problem with it. My suggestion is to simplify the naming (keeping
> backward compatability when possible).

There *is* a need for a naming scheme like the new SCSI names, at
least for big systems. People with small systems or who don't like the
new names can use the existing names. But that should stop people with
big systems being allowed to have a location-based naming scheme.

Regards,

Richard....

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