Subject: Re: [linux-audio-dev] ALSA vs OSS/free
From: Erik de Castro Lopo (erikd-lad_AT_mega-nerd.com)
Date: Sun Mar 10 2002 - 04:43:10 EET
On Sat, 9 Mar 2002 21:13:06 -0500
"Ivica Bukvic" <ico_AT_fuse.net> wrote:
> Since we are talking about this [non]issue, again, I just realized that
> there is one thing I am still not able to comprehend completely, so I
> would greatly appreciate any thoughts on this one.
>
> It is no rocket science to figure out that Alsa is the way to go, and I
> am all for it. But one thing I do not comprehend is why is the
> user-space driver better than the kernel space one?
Not really. The real reason is that drivers should little more than talk
directly to the hardware. Data conversion belongs in user space.
> Is it because this way kernel will eventually become more stable and
> more compact having all drivers loaded outside of the kernel space? (I'd
> assume yes, but please correct me if I am wrong)
Only the data conversion belongs outside kernel space.
> Also, in which case do you get better latency and overall system
> performance (I thought that if something is run in kernel-space that it
> gets higher priority, if so, won't this kind of move of making all
> drivers outside the kernel space, make Linux slower?)?
Talking to hardware is something that should be high priority while data
conversion shouldn't be.
Erik
-- +-----------------------------------------------------------+ Erik de Castro Lopo nospam_AT_mega-nerd.com (Yes it's valid) +-----------------------------------------------------------+ "The Internet interprets censorship as damage, and routes around it." - John Gilmore, EFF co-founder
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