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Xref: sserve comp.os.386bsd.misc:3065 comp.os.linux.misc:21230 Path: sserve!newshost.anu.edu.au!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!bunyip.cc.uq.oz.au!munnari.oz.au!constellation!osuunx.ucc.okstate.edu!newsfeed.ksu.ksu.edu!moe.ksu.ksu.edu!vixen.cso.uiuc.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!gatech!udel!news.sprintlink.net!agphx.agcs.com!not-for-mail From: robertsw@agcs.com (Wallace Roberts) Newsgroups: comp.os.386bsd.misc,comp.os.linux.misc Subject: Re: source of TCP/IP (was I hope this wont ignite a major flame ...) Date: 3 Aug 1994 17:21:09 -0700 Organization: agcs Lines: 36 Message-ID: <31pc9l$ctp@oscar.agcs.com> References: <31od8d$15l@fw.novatel.ca> NNTP-Posting-Host: oscar.agcs.com hpeyerl@sidney.novatel.ca (Herb Peyerl) writes: [ ...snip happens... ] >I've tried reading Linux networking code. At least some of the device >drivers and each of the ones I looked at gave me a brain hemorrage... > >This is an example of some of the Linux device-drivers I've seen: > > short error = rx_status & 0x3C00; > outw(inw(ioaddr + 0x0A) | 0x00C0, ioaddr + 0x0A); > >As far as I can tell; Linux Ethernet device-drivers were written in >Write-Only-C. There are no comments in the surrounding code that in any >way indicates exactly what "0x3c00", "0x0a", "0x00c0" actually mean. To >people without docs (usually these are the people who are trying to fix >the code) the above is completely meaningless. if you're writing (or fixing) a device driver, you are expected to have the h/w manuals handy. comments are unnecessary if you have the device manual & understand the h/w. this is the expected level of competence for a programmer writing or fixing a device driver. "if you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch..." >Thank you; I'll stick to working on code that I can actually read. you're welcome. now run along and play... gears, ye wilde ryder -- robertsw@agcs.com | 86 cr250 "dirt devil" 83 v65 magna "animal" "E Pluribus Unix" | 79 it250 "mr. reliable" 84 650 nighthawk ">> for sale <<" "Criminals (especially tyrants) prefer unarmed victims." "Ignorance can be cured; stupidity, on the other hand, is hereditary."