X-Account-Key: account1 X-UIDL: 124382 X-Mozilla-Keys: Return-Path: X-ListServer: CommuniGate Pro LIST 5.1.3 List-Unsubscribe: List-ID: List-Archive: Precedence: list Message-ID: Reply-To: "OS/2 Wireless Users Mailing List" Sender: "OS/2 Wireless Users Mailing List" To: "OS/2 Wireless Users Mailing List" X-Original-Message-ID: <46FBF95B.2040906@2rosenthals.com> Date: Thu, 27 Sep 2007 14:41:31 -0400 From: "Lewis G Rosenthal" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Subject: Re: [OS2Wireless] Is it time to commission a driver project apart from GenMAC? On 09/26/07 08:37 am, Stanley Sidlov thus wrote : > On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:04:02 -0400, Lewis G Rosenthal wrote: > > >> While reinventing the wheel is never a task to be undertaken lightly, >> perhaps another wrapper project - open source - would be the best way to >> go? What would it take? Who would be interested to step up to the plate >> either with financial support (for test equipment, etc.) or with >> programming talent? >> > > I'm pretty quiet these days, but I think wrappers for Windows drivers is/was a bad move > even with the underlying stuff that IBM and the ODIN has given OS/2. There are fundamental > things in there that can't be changed because they are IBM's, so ugly Win3.1 file > management icons, etc are always going to be there. VISTA appears to be different again > from XP in it's underlying code (even MS had a lack of drivers when it was released). We > need to be able to use and take more direct advantage of the Linux open source drivers or > non-open source Linux drivers and wrap those on our OS. > > These are good points, Stan. I was never a "wrapper" advocate, mainly due to the amount of processing overhead (which I will grant varies depending upon the type of application - Golden Code Java vs Innotek is a good example, here). It may well be that something more along the lines of the SNAP code would be a better way to go, with broader support for chipsets and architecture (in an ideal world). Wrapping Linux drivers is also an interesting idea, considering how much of our stuff comes from porting these days. However, device drivers may prove to be more problematic than wrapping Windows modules (I really have no idea, though UNIAUD coming from ALSA does show that this is not only possible but feasible). > GenMac is only one issue. What about other wireless devices such as USB or PCMCIA cards? > What about Printers? What about display chips? Sound cards? We need a new ODIN project > that allows us to wrap or easily mod Linux drivers. It needs to be as simple as EMX is, > just a set of libraries added to the path or the project should be driven as a native > conversion like the ALSA code base for sound cards was. > > Well, for printers, the CUPS porting project shows much promise. It would be nice to have a single CUPS framework, and then be able to just plug in the appropriate ppd for OS/2, just like in Linux. > Bounty the additional code library or toolset to make this easier to do. > > Good idea. > JMHO. > > Thanks for your thoughts! -- Lewis ------------------------------------------------------------ Lewis G Rosenthal, CNA, CLP, CLE Rosenthal & Rosenthal, LLC Accountants / Network Consultants New York / Northern Virginia www.2rosenthals.com eComStation Consultants www.ecomstation.com Novell Users Int'l www.novell.com/openenterpriseserver Need a managed Wi-Fi hotspot? www.hautspot.com ------------------------------------------------------------ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to the mailing list . To unsubscribe, E-mail to: To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to To switch to the INDEX mode, E-mail to Send administrative queries to To subscribe (new addresses), E-mail to: and reply to the confirmation email. Web archives are publicly available at: http://lists.2rosenthals.com This list is hosted by Rosenthal & Rosenthal, LLC P.O. Box 281, Deer Park, NY 11729-0281. Non- electronic communications related to content contained in these messages should be directed to the above address. (CAN-SPAM Act of 2003) =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=