splice() and the ghost of set_fs()

Posted May 27, 2022 1:03 UTC (Fri) by gerdesj (subscriber, #5446)
Parent article: splice() and the ghost of set_fs()

"But it is true that this type of episode makes the kernel's "no regressions" rule look a bit more like just a guideline."

A bit like the Constitution for the UKoGBnNI - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_United_... - "Unlike in most countries, no attempt has been made to codify such arrangements into a single document."

... and yet somehow we struggle along.

It might look a bit daft to conflate the Linux kernel's governance with the UK's legal system but I think it is quite instructional. One of our cherished principles is the idea that you should be able to "quietly enjoy" your property - I can't remember the exact term. I think a coal mine making a racket caused the formative judgment.

So, the no regressions thing can be seen in similar terms: Don't break people's code.

However we have to be practical and sometimes stuff has to change.