Re: [RFC] kernel-headers and /lib/modules/*/build -> ?
>>"Michel" == Michel Dänzer <michdaen@iiic.ethz.ch> writes:
Michel> After Manoj bashed my bug #110400, I discussed the matter
Michel> with him on IRC and he asked me to bring it up here.
Thanks for doing that.
Michel> The goal of my proposal is to enable the user to install a
Michel> kernel-image and the accompanying kernel-headers and when
Michel> running that kernel, just invoke make to build modules for
Michel> it.
Michel> Now before I get flamed for the technical changes this would
Michel> involve, I'd like to ask if that's a worthwhile goal at
Michel> all. :)
A initial cut at the changes involved:
1) the official kernel-image packages do not ship the symbolic link
/lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build installed by the kernel makefiles
2) the kernel image package prerm removes the symlink, so that
official kernel image packages are removable (and do not leave
cruft dirs with a symlink around)
3) Instead of shipping a tarball of kernel headers, we ship unpacked
kernel headers. Looking at the Packages files today, installed
sizes of kernel-header packages range from 20MB to 32MB.
4) the kernel header postinst is enhanced to look for the link
/lib/modules/$VERSION/build, and, if the dir exists but the
symbolic link does not exist, create the symlink, pointing to the
unpacked kernel headers package.
As far as I can see, this benefits people who
a) are running the official kerel image
b) who want to build unpackaged kernel modules
c) who do not have the real kernel sources around
d) are disinclined to unpack the kernel headers tarball, and use a -I
directive while compiling their kernel module.
I personally do not know anyone apart from Michel who actually
fits these constraints (I mean, I have 5 kernel source dirs on my
machine at the moment -- who needs kernel headers? And I rarely, if
ever, run tye kitchen sunk and everything in an initrd kernel images
we are officially producing now)
I think that the ROI, given the niche use, may not justify the
changes involved; but I am willing to be convinced otherwise. I am
also willing to swayed by howls of protest against my position.
manoj
--
Of course it's possible to love a human being if you don't know them
too well. Charles Bukowski
Manoj Srivastava <srivasta@debian.org> <http://www.debian.org/%7Esrivasta/>
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