“Thomas Hellström of Tungsten Graphics / VMware initiated
this most recent discussion, which can be found on the Linux kernel
mailing list. He notes that some open-source developers are against
allowing an open-source DRM that is just used by a closed-source
driver for security, user-space interface validation and
maintainability, and political reasons. The security aspect can be
partially circumvented via public, NDA-free documents surrounding
the hardware, and as Thomas proposes, by a documented security
analysis of the driver that is written by the involved
developer(s). In regards to the stable user-space interface, Thomas
notes that often when open-source drivers are published for review
they actually receive very little feedback and that in his opinion
small programs that demonstrate the interface functionality would
be sufficient for those companies still wishing to remain partially
closed-source.”
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