In Linux, can I use the old proprietary code?

Article title: whether or not Linux can use proprietary code. Linux is a technology channel of the IT lab in China. Some basic categories, such as desktop applications, Linux system management, kernel research, embedded systems, and open-source systems, implement beautiful graphics in Linux have caused a common problem: can proprietary software be applied to open-source Linux?

This issue involves software modules called drivers. A driver is a bridge between software and hardware such as NICs, hard disks, and graphics cards. Using such a driver in Linux is very common, but it is almost necessary to make the operating system interface more eye-catching.

To achieve 3D effects on the desktop and similar visual effects to Windows, the software must use the powerful processing capabilities of the graphics chip. Although the Linux kernel is open-source software, Nvidia and ATI drivers are not open-source software.

Proprietary drivers cause conflicts between open-source and pragmatic drivers. The Free Software Foundation (FSF) says the GPL license prohibits the use of proprietary drivers. However, although FSF is very powerful in the open source software field, it has encountered fierce opposition on this issue.

Ravin, an analyst at The 451 Group, said that if Linux wants to be supported by a wider range of vendors, The open-source code community needs to make some compromises with proprietary software.

It is very difficult to develop open-source graphics card drivers without the help of Nvidia or ATI. Michael, founder of Phoronix, a high-end Linux hardware vendor, said that, to a large extent, proprietary drivers are the only choice for modern graphics chips.

Nvidia's GeForce 7 Series and ATI's Radeon X1000 series chips do not currently provide any open-source drivers. It usually takes several months to develop open-source drivers using reverse engineering, and it is usually quite rough.

ATI says its drivers are still proprietary for intellectual property reasons. 'Ati permits some intellectual property rights of a third party and we must protect these intellectual property rights, 'said Matthew, Linux software technology manager at ATI.

The competition in the video card market is fierce, especially in the high-end market. we have a lot of intellectual property rights, and we want to keep them as proprietary as possible. they are part of commercial secrets.

For Nvidia, intellectual property rights are a secondary issue. Andrew, software product manager at Nvidia, said it was very difficult to develop open-source drivers. In addition, the customer does not require open-source drivers.

Some Nvidia components are open, including some driver configuration tools and a driver component that communicates with the kernel. We believe that making the driver open source code is very important.

The two companies have adopted a cooperative attitude towards making Linux have a 3D graphic effect comparable to Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows Vista.

ATI is working closely with Novell on Xgl software. Andy, Nvidia manager for Unix graphics drivers, said Nvidia prefers Red Hat's AIGLX.

. If they were initially developed for the Linux kernel, they must comply with the GPL licensing method.
FSF opposed this idea. FSF lawyer Eben said in an interview in February January that if the kernel fully complies with GPL, private graphics card drivers cannot be connected in the kernel, either dynamic or static.

Even if it is effective, proprietary drivers bring some complexity. Intel's supervisor for Linux and open source code strategy, Derek, said that if an open source kernel is used and a proprietary binary module is added to it, it will weaken the ability to provide customers with services of the same level.

Red Hat's technical director, Mr. Stevens, said they did not say no to proprietary drivers for commercial reasons. He said many smart people are developing open-source drivers.

Red Hat called graphics hardware vendors to help open-source programmers by sharing detailed hardware specifications. Mr. Stevens said that we have directly asked them to completely open their product specifications, even though they have not yet done so.

Intel believes it can take advantage of open-source drivers to break Nvidia and ATI markets, and it has gained support from Red Hat. The cooperation between Intel and the open source community is a major advantage, Mr. Stevens said.