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Luis Chamberlain sent out the modules changes today for the Linux 6.6 merge window. Most notable with the modules update is a change that better builds up the defenses against NVIDIA's proprietary kernel driver from using GPL-only symbols. Or in other words, bits that only true open-source drivers should be utilizing and not proprietary kernel drivers like NVIDIA's default Linux driver in respecting the original kernel code author's intent.

Back in 2020 when the original defense was added, NVIDIA recommended avoiding the Linux 5.9 for the time being. They ended up having a supported driver several weeks later. It will be interesting to see this time how long Linux 6.6+ thwarts their kernel driver.

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[-] sky@leminal.space 28 points 1 year ago

Yeah, you're just running an entirely proprietary GPU that only Apple makes proprietary drivers for. Don't see how that's a win in any way?

[-] argv_minus_one@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Apple's GPU at least isn't maliciously designed to be difficult to write open-source drivers for. It's up to the community to figure out how it works and write a driver, but Apple isn't actively trying to stop them like NVIDIA is.

[-] sky@leminal.space 2 points 1 year ago

This is a fair point, and I'm not trying to defend NVIDIA's behavior. I use an AMD GPU on Linux for a reason 😅

The progress on Asahi Linux has me considering a M1 MacBook Air for real.

[-] argv_minus_one@beehaw.org 4 points 1 year ago

The progress on Asahi Linux is a demonstration of the difference I mentioned. People have been working on open-source NVIDIA drivers for ages and still can't get the GPU out of first gear, whereas the M1 GPU driver is mostly functional after only a couple of years.

[-] acastcandream@beehaw.org -5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

It’s a different problem that effects me less than Nvidia’s nonsense. Because of my work I’m not messing around swapping out CPU’s using GPU’s anyway. I need one, rocksteady unit to last me 5 to 8 years for professional editing. Besides, the silicon chips smoke lol. I’ve got a buddy regularly editing 4K ProRes on a $700 Mac mini with zero issues.

this post was submitted on 30 Aug 2023
807 points (98.7% liked)

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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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