is usb 3.0 software free software?
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The software that runs usb 3.0, is it free software, is there source code?
It's not clear to me what aspect of USB you're referring to. The stuff in the kernel is free. USB devices commonly have their own firmware which is not. And there's firmware in your USB controller that isn't.
I'd guess tonlee is referring to the drivers in the kernel that operate a USB 3.0 flash drive, for example.
USB isn't a program, it's a standard. I wouldn't label a standard as "free software". It can be open, or it can be patented, or it can be secret. I think USB is an open standard, but don't quote me on that.
Okay, pedant. :) Imagine, then, the question being rephrased so as to be asking about the implementation of that standard as used on GNU/Linux systems then. I'm sure you knew what they meant. :)
I'm not so sure it's a pedantic distinction. Even if the typical implementation of an open standard is with a proprietary program, it's still an open standard. I think Oracle's proprietary Java implementation is quite popular on GNU/Linux, for example, and Sun's used to be before Sun was aquired by Oracle. But that doesn't make Java "proprietary". Similarly, even if the hardware we're all using that is a part of a USB connection runs on some sort of proprietary embedded firmware (which is quite likely), that doesn't make USB itself "proprietary".
On the other hand, whether the standard is open has a direct effect on what libre software can do with the standard. If the standard is patent-encumbered, libre software implementing or supporting the standard has to worry about legal problems until the patents expire. If the standard is secret, we have to reverse-engineer it before libre software can implement or support it. But if the standard is open, libre software can be made to implement or support it right now. All of this is irrespective of what kind of software is currently being used to implement or support the standard.
I'm not so sure it's a pedantic distinction. Even if the typical
implementation of an open standard is with a proprietary program, it's still
an open standard. I think Oracle's proprietary Java implementation is quite
popular on GNU/Linux, for example, and Sun's used to be before Sun was
aquired by Oracle. But that doesn't make Java "proprietary". Similarly, even
if the hardware we're all using that is a part of a USB connection runs on
some sort of proprietary embedded firmware (which is quite likely), that
doesn't make USB itself "proprietary". So to ask if USB is "free software" is
meaningless.
On the other hand, asking whether the standard is open is meaningful. If the
standard is patent-encumbered, libre software implementing or supporting the
standard has to worry about legal problems until the patents expire. If the
standard is secret, we have to reverse-engineer it before libre software can
implement or support it. But if the standard is open, libre software can be
made to implement or support it right now. All of this is irrespective of
what kind of software is currently being used to implement or support the
standard.
Okay, pedant. :) Imagine, then, the question being rephrased so as to be
asking about the implementation of that standard as used on GNU/Linux systems
then. I'm sure you knew what they meant. :)
usb 2.0 has no controller and will do with source code only? I read that that usb 3.0 has a controller that requires software. If that software is non free then it is one more obstacle for a free software mainboard if you want usb 3.0? Usb 3.0 means you for external hdds can get sata speed?
The USB 3.0 implementation in Linux (the very first implementation of the USB 3.0 standard, in September 2009) is under the GNU GPL. It is free software. Sarah Sharp (who recently had to left the unwelcoming Linux community) did it: http://sarah.thesharps.us/2009/06/07/usb-3-0-support-coming-soon-to-a-linux-kernel-near-you/
Thanks.
The software that runs usb 3.0, is it free software, is there source code?
Thanks.
The USB 3.0 implementation in Linux (the very first implementation of the USB
3.0 norm, in September 2009) is under the GNU GPL. It is free software. Sarah
Sharp (who had to left the unwelcoming Linux community) did it:
http://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/News/First-Driver-for-USB-3.0
Hi, I bought it fo my Thinkpad x60, but doesn't work. Can I do something?
It's not clear to me what aspect of USB you're referring to. The stuff in the
kernel is free. USB devices commonly have their own firmware which is not.
And there's firmware in your USB controller that isn't.
I'd guess tonlee is referring to the drivers in the kernel that operate a USB
3.0 flash drive, for example.
USB isn't a program, it's a standard. I wouldn't label a standard as "free
software". It can be open, or it can be patented, or it can be secret. I
think USB is an open standard, but don't quote me on that.
usb 2.0 has no controller and will do with source code only? I read that that
usb 3.0 has a controller that requires software. If that software is non free
then it is one more obstacle for a free software mainboard if you want usb
3.0? Usb 3.0 means you for external hdds can get sata speed?
Hi, I bought it fo my Thinkpad x60, but doesn't work. Can I do something?
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