Linus is right about paid security updates

[kvuj]

On 10/6/2020 at 8:32 AM, LAwLz said:

1) The reason why updates dry up on Android is mostly dictated by Qualcomm, not the OEM like Samsung. Once Qualcomm stops supplying BSPs for their SoCs the manufacturers are more or less stuck. So Linus doesn't even understand one of the root problems which makes what he describes impossible or at the very least improbable.

Amen.

 

When a SoC maker has to provide a working kernel with their chips, they have 2 choices:

1. Take the time to submit patches to upstream Linux and work to meet the very high standards of the kernel team. This would give the SoC a lifetime of updates (which opposes their business model).
2. Make a Frankenstein kernel with horrible quality patches, and support it for 1.5 years. (Forcing their customers to buy recent chips which benefits their business models).