Linux Kernel Ups Graphics, Drops Android

[Bimmerjo]

First off, I want to apologize if this has been posted, but I looked around and didn't see anything:

LinuxPlanet - Reports - Linux 2.6.33 Boosts Graphics, Dumps Android - The Linux Kernel Races Forward

While new graphics hardware is being supported in 2.6.33, the release is actually dropping support for Google's Android. Kroah-Hartman noted in a Linux git development system comment that the drivers were no longer being maintained.

"These drivers are no longer being developed and the original authors seem to have abandoned them and hence, do not want them in the mainline kernel tree," Kroah-Hartman wrote.

Kroah-Hartman, who is also a, expanded on the comment earlier this month, in a detailed blog post that indicated that without additional help from Google developers, Android code that's heavily dependent on development in Google's kernel tree can't be merged with the mainline Linux kernel.

He also said in the post that he plans on providing additional details at the CELF Embedded Linux Conference in mid-April.

 

[Bimmerjo]

Maybe this might have a little bit to do with no release of 2.1?

 

[adrynalyne]

Nope. 2.1 still uses 2.6.29, which is/was still part of the tree.

 

[Bimmerjo]

Ah, thanks.

 

[KZIWarrior]

Think you're reading to much into this. The drivers they are speaking of are outdated anyway so it does no good for them to support/include them. Driver development is one of the few ways a Linux distro can 'brand' their distribution and since Google maintains their own kernel tree with their required drives this should not really effect much (except maybe some people that like to but a full Linux distro on their phone, seen a few people do this).

 

[jimnutt]

Also, it's not terribly uncommon for specialized stuff to be dropped from the tree for a while and then added again later.