Linux Gaming @lemmy.world Atemu @lemmy.ml 3mo ago

Former Nouveau Lead Developer Joins NVIDIA, Continues Working On Open-Source Driver

www.phoronix.com Former Nouveau Lead Developer Joins NVIDIA, Continues Working On Open-Source Driver

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Putting the 2 trillion dollars worth into a good use. Happy to see open-source developers getting recognition and proper compensation.
- he was already at red hat before going to nvidia
  
  Working for IBM on open-source stuff? Surprised he lasted this long.
So, is this a good thing or a bad thing?

I'm not sure what is more surprising that he is at the green giant or that he's able to continue working on the Nouveau driver in an official capacity. Ben Skeggs has been involved with the Nouveau project for more than a decade.

I don't trust them, there has to be a catch.
- The solution is simple.
  
  Fork the code and maintain your own fork.
  
  .. or ..
  
  You could say thank you and enjoy the fact that a person is being paid to write and maintain open source software.
  
  If it all goes to shit, you can still fork the code.
  
  That really depends on if NVIDIA pulls some nonsense and makes the driver somehow worse.
  
  I'm hopeful, just a bit skeptical due to the decisions they've made in the past.
  
  Are you sure you replied to the correct comment?
- Nvidia has been slowly trying to open a little over the years; first GBM support in the proprietary driver then the open OOT module and finally GSP firmwares for the kernel; allowing an OSS kernel module to exist.
  
  The OSS graphics community has obviously shown that it doesn't want Nvidia's open module (which is tied to the proprietary driver anyways) and would rather build out its own OSS drivers atop an adapted Nouveau/NOVA. Perhaps Nvidia finally realised this?
  
  I'm sceptical too but for now this appears to be an actually good move from Nvidia?
  
  Hopefully? I'm optimistic, but skeptical. I hope the dev gets actual information about the product that they can legally use to improve FOSS NVIDIA drivers.
I'm not an Nvidia user, but just sounds like an overall win to me. Good for the developer (getting paid for open source work), good for Nvidia (further support of open source software), good for Linux Nvidia users (more Dev time/effort into the driver will likely improve it greatly).
Sounds good to me. I don't like Nvidia much. But this is neat.

15 comments