FS#16069 - [kernel26] should not depend on [kernel26-firmware]

Attached to Project: Arch Linux
Opened by Devin Cofer (Ranguvar) - Monday, 07 September 2009, 03:22 GMT
Last edited by Tobias Powalowski (tpowa) - Monday, 07 September 2009, 15:41 GMT
Task Type Feature Request
Category Packages: Core
Status Closed
Assigned To Tobias Powalowski (tpowa)
Architecture All
Severity Low
Priority Normal
Reported Version
Due in Version Undecided
Due Date Undecided
Percent Complete 100%
Votes 1
Private No

Details

kernel26-firmware is unneccesary for users who do not own the hardware it supports. In that case, it's simply several MB of binary blobs (proprietary).
I removed it myself with no ill effects.

I argue that kernel26-firmware should be an optdepends, not a full depends. However, it should still be installed by default, and LiveCDs/etc. should still have it, to make sure users of said hardware will not be affected.
This task depends upon

Closed by  Tobias Powalowski (tpowa)
Monday, 07 September 2009, 15:41 GMT
Reason for closing:  Duplicate
Additional comments about closing:  http://bugs.archlinux.org/task/15132
Comment by Tobias Powalowski (tpowa) - Monday, 07 September 2009, 06:22 GMT
Well, we had once a request for it we closed this, it's part of the standard kernel it would install if you use make install.
Some of those blobs are necessary for some network cards.
Comment by Devin Cofer (Ranguvar) - Monday, 07 September 2009, 15:40 GMT
  • Field changed: Percent Complete (100% → 0%)
Yes, that is true. However, for a large portion of users, the firmware is simply space wasted on proprietary blobs.

We already install several packages differently than the norm, like KDE, which is split. By making kernel26-firmware an automatically-installed optdepends, we do not hurt users who still need it.
Comment by Tobias Powalowski (tpowa) - Monday, 07 September 2009, 15:40 GMT
http://bugs.archlinux.org/task/15132#comment45542

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