[maemo-developers] [maemo-developers] swapfile is a huge improvement!

[From: Dave Neuer]

On 1/16/06, Juha Yrjölä <juha.yrjola at nokia.com> wrote:
> On Mon, 2006-01-16 at 11:12 -0500, Dave Neuer wrote:
>
> The users can make their devices as complex they want (and possibly as
> unstable).  We're responsible of keeping the software _we_ ship stable.

That's completely reasonable, and I'd expect the same from every
computer vendor or Linux distributor (w/ the intro of the 770, Nokia
has become both).

>
> > > The issues regarding what happens when a swap device disappears from
> > > underneath have to fixed first.
> >
> > Is there a roadmap for solving that problem? Will it be solved on
> > LKML, or by Nokia in-house? Or will Nokia open up the device specs &
> > software more so developers can experiment with neat little tricks
> > when the door opens/cards are inserted, etc. so that anyone is able to
> > happily stumble upon the "right solution?"
>
> _More_?  What on earth could you still want?

Source, or comprehensive docs for the flasher tool? An explanation of
what each of the FIASCO image compenents is and does? A list of any
proprietary kernel modules (which may or may not be legal) and a
description of what they do/why they're neccessary? A list of same for
non-kernel software modules in the initfs and rootfs images? Waiver
from Nokia of the prohibition against me reverse-engineering their
non-OSS software?

>
> # flasher -k /path/to/zImage -lb

Will this work if I use the latest OMAP 2.6.15 from Linus' git repo?
What about ensuring that the kernel is compatible w/ the initfs?

>
> User-space will get notifications about the MMC events through the
> standard uevent interface.

Does this include the "door is open/closed" information? Where is that
documented?

>
> As for where this problem might be solved, LKML is definitely the right
> place.  I'm not yet personally convinced on the merits of having swap on
> MMC, but anyone who is can of course start the thread.
>
> > It's cool to me precisely because it's a computer but fits in my
> > pocket, and I can do almost anything with it that I can do with my
> > computer.
>
> It's cool to me precisely for the same reason.  But, as you probably
> realize, different people value different things.

I do realize that, and like I said, I think Nokia have released a very
cool device. I sincerely hope it takes off. The size and orientation
of the screen, user-replaceable, (somewhat) standard battery and the
built-in expansion slot are huge improvements over previous entries
into this "computer in your hand" product category.

I'm simply saying that absent much of the inrormation in my response
to your question "what more," the ability of developers (at least this
one) to feel comfortable experimenting with the device is less than
than it could be.

E.g., I asked for pointers to info like the above before (even just a
description of the FIASCO components and info like size constraints),
and the only answer I got was someone I believe was not a Nokia
employee and which said "search the mail archives" and had a pointer
to the flasher-tool howto.

>
> Cheers,
> Juha

Likewise,
Dave