2024-03-12 16:31:14

by Tanvir Roshid

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Subject: Linux Kernel (megi patches for PinePhone Pro)

Hi,

I hope you are well.

I wanted to post this message to discuss the megous kernel and
communicate with the embedded Linux community. This post is my first
attempt at using the Linux mailing list, so forgive me if I make any
mistakes.

For context, the megous kernel is a fork of the Torvald kernel
containing patches to enable the PinePhone and PinePhone Pro to boot
correctly.

The megous kernel disappeared earlier this year. We have spent the
better part of the year getting the phones to boot with the upstream
kernel for GNOME OS. We successfully confirmed working boards using
patches found on this repo:
-
https://gitlab.com/pine64-org/linux/-/tree/linux-pinephonepro-6.6.y?ref_type=heads

The work is visible here:
- https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-build-meta/-/merge_requests/2455

I am aware that a new fork replacing the megous kernel exists here:
- https://github.com/sailfish-on-dontbeevil/kernel-megi

The GNOME community would prefer not to rely on a custom kernel and use
the upstream version to avoid a repeat of the megous kernel and its
disappearance. Recently, the patches have understandably failed to apply
to the new kernel. We would prefer not to upstream these patches for
long-term maintainability versus continuous maintenance.

My question to the embedded community is:
- What is preventing the upstream kernel from integrating these patches?

From research (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30015412), I can
see that these patches present problems. However, we would like to know
more specifics to eventually upstream these patches via additional work.

Kind regards,
Tanvir Roshid