Linux: Continuing To Debate devfs and udev

Posted by bstadil on Sep 15, 2005 5:07 AM EDT
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The debate continues regarding the removal of the kernel spacedevfs in favor of the user spaceudev, though less people seem concerned about the idea. Linux devfs was written by Richard Gooch and merged into the 2.3.46 kernel in February of 2000. Greg KH began developing udev in 2001 [story], working to implement the same functionality as devfs, but in userspace.

A resubmission of a patch intended to remove the unmaintained devfs from the kernel [story] spawned a renewed discussion of the potential merits of keeping devfs.

Mike Bell titled his arguments the "devfs vs udev FAQ from the other side", summarizing some differences between the two systems, and listing potential advantages of each. Robert Love [interview] contested some of his claims for devfs, pointing to the more modern features in udev, "what modern system, though, could survive without hotplug and sysfs and netlink?" Mike replied, "devfs's removal from the kernel isn't going to end my life, no. In fact it won't even stop me using linux. But it makes my job harder and more expensive, and as my little FAQ explains I don't feel I'm getting anything out of the deal."

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