Re: [9fans] General question about hosted interfaces

[jmk@plan9.bell-labs.com]

On Thu Jul 12 17:13:24 EDT 2001, chris@cjl1.demon.co.uk wrote:
> > So? What makes you think that someone else can?
>
> As an individual (not representing a corporation)
> I find it extremely difficult to get hold of data sheets.
>
> I have filled in countless web-forms to register
> for the ability to access the 'developer' pages
> on a manufacturers site.
>
> I have yet to gain access to a single one!
>
> This make it hard for the hobbyist to get involved in
> writing drivers.
>

You are missing 2 things:
1) it's not any easier for someone working for a corporation - in many
   ways it's worse as a) they know you have a lawyer, b) they think they
   may be able to make money out of it, both of which colour the discussion,
   and 3) they may consider you a competitor in some sense.
2) the datasheet may not exist. The lifetime of interface cards is so short
   and the margins of the manufacturer so thin they often don't bother with
   a technical writer.

Like Boyd I've used high-quality documentation from Digital. That level can
still be found from some of the established component manufacturers (e.g. Intel,
National Semiconductor) but even that doesn't always help when the components
are combined with others to make a system.