User:Robfalla/Hardware adaptation

Hardware Adaptation

Adapting a software component to a specific hardware environment.

Introduction

An operating system will define an interface to a hardware component. The api (application programmer interface) is made available to developers who need to know how to adapt their physical device driver to the requirements of the target system.

Basics

There are several ways to create an adaptation:

1. Just works
2. Kernel Extensions
3. Plugins

Just works is a term used when a system provides an interface that complies with some internationally recognized standard. The idea behind just works is that if the implementer provides a driver that --talks-- the right language or that sends the correct signals to the system the system will understand what the driver expects and behave as expected. Put another way, if the system and the hardware implementer both adhere to the standard the hardware will just work.

Kernel extensions

Plugins

the most common being to write a kernel extension using the published apis. The system provides a thin layer api that exposes an interface for the physical device driver to target.

Additional Resources

Category:Operating system technology