On 8/30/07, James Hartley <jjhartley@gmail.com> wrote:
> I am aware that the kernel configuration files specify which drivers
> are compiled into the kernel.  Yet is there any Webpage, Website,
> mailing list, or Wiki which chronicles the decision(s) for including
> those drivers found in the default kernels?

Each platform has it's challenges. I think the real question is what
to actually enabled by default, not what should be available. Include
everything in the config file, I say, just disable everything that
isn't absolutely essential.

For example, on Cobalt there is a hardware limitation to boot a small
kernel, so the kernel has remained pretty small. But that limitation
was worked around long ago by using a bootloader, which can then boot
any sized kernel you want (as far as I know). Yet still, USB support
is not available. You have to hack it in yourself, because it seems
that maybe someone still thinks the kernel needs to be small? Why?
Seems silly to me.

Then again, I haven't sent any diffs or changes myself to fix this, so
I can't complain too much.

Andy