Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 28th Feb 2013 12:08 UTC
"Google has opened a public kernel repository, marked as experimental, for the Linux 3.8 kernel. The kernel repo is built from the standard Linux kernel, with Android modifications added by the folks in Mountain View working on the Android project. The reason this is good news? 3.8 includes three important and interesting changes for mobile devices - support for open source NVIDIA Tegra and Samsung Exynos DRM drivers, support for the Flash-Friendly File-System, and a lower memory footprint - in some cases much lower. Having native support means less development time by Google or anyone else building the kernel for Android, and everyone loves more memory for apps instead of the system."
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RE[2]: Easier to port other OS to the same devices
by Lennie on Thu 28th Feb 2013 16:33
in reply to "RE: Easier to port other OS to the same devices"
Member since:2007-09-22
RE[2]: Easier to port other OS to the same devices
by Bill Shooter of Bul on Thu 28th Feb 2013 20:05
in reply to "RE: Easier to port other OS to the same devices"
Member since:2006-07-14
Yeah, you are correct. But, if future devices use this kernel, it will help Ubuntu,Jolla,Firefox et All port their operating systems to those future devices.
Per terms of the GPL, they would be required to release the source anyways, but its nice that they are doing it before it gets shipped in devices. Might make any porting of alternative OS' a bit easier, if they require additional changes to the kernel.
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2007-03-26
This is probably a really stupid question, but why would that make it easier to port another (Linux) OS than it is at the moment?
Wouldn't the conditions for this be that the other OS had to be running the same kernel (which none do at present) or is there another reason that I'm completely overlooking?