How and why to work with the Linux kernel community Linux driver development model, good case timeline #1 Hardware vendor starts Linux driver development for new HW during HW R&D Hardware vendor submits Linux driver for review / inclusion into mainline Linux kernel before HW ships User installs HW and has immediate support by current Linux kernel Hardware vendor publicly releases HW docs when the product ships, or even later This enables the community to support/integrate the driver with new interfaces It also enables the community to support hardware post EOL, at a point where the HW vendor