Thread: [Line6linux-devel] Opened a support ticket with Line6
Status: Pre-Alpha
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From: L. A. G. <agi...@sy...> - 2012-11-28 20:33:11
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Hi, I've just opened a support request with Line6. I'm trying to convince the to help us to support their hardware on Linux. The full text is: ----------- 8< ------------------------------------------------- Hi, I'm a happy POD HD 500 user, but my main operating system at home is Linux. In order to use the full power of your awesome device, I'm forced to use a Windows operating system. I set up a poll for all HD users (http://line6.com/support/polls/1158), and as you can see even with a relatively small sample, there's a good part of your customers that would like to see their hardware supported under Linux systems. I'm not asking that you do the work. That's the greatness of a community-driven development model like Linux. There is a group of people willing to write the drivers for you. Even an Edit 500-like software to take all the possible advantage of the device. But we need specs to be able to write a quality driver. Please think about it. A good driver for Linux, at zero cost for you guys. There's even a generic "Driver Project" that is coordinated by a key Kernel maintainer (please see http://www.linuxdriverproject.org) if you want your hardare to be supported in Linux but you don't know where to begin. The Driver Project aims to work with the manufacturers in a good-for-you-good-for-us relationship (the kernel developers write drivers for you and you will have a part of your customers happier than ever). Currently there is a reverse-engineered driver that works with old hardware (latest supported POD is the HD300), but it doesn't support all features, and it's quite hard to support new devices. Please, think about it. You can be the first top-notch professional music hardware company that has its hardware supported in Linux out of the box. It may not mean a lot for you now, but a lot of companies have embraced Linux and it was a very positive step for them. Please reply with any concerns you may have and we will see how can we tackle it so your customers as well as you guys are satisfied with the solution. Regards, L. Alberto ----------- >8 ------------------------------------------------- I know that chances are that it gets ignored, but as my father always says, "you already have the 'no'. It can't get any worse by asking". And I think that we should tell all the Linux users that have a Line6 device to tell them what they think. If we don't move, we will have no results. If we move and we are ignored... well... we would have tried at least :) So... hoping to get my hands dirty, but still not losing the hope that they may help in the future. Regards, -- L. Alberto Giménez JabberID agi...@ja... GnuPG key ID 0x3BAABDE1 |
From: Markus G. <gr...@ic...> - 2012-11-28 22:31:14
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Am Mittwoch, 28. November 2012, 21:33:03 schrieb L. Alberto Giménez: > Hi, > > I've just opened a support request with Line6. I'm trying to convince the to > help us to support their hardware on Linux. Thanks for initiating this! I have one comment on the text: > Currently there is a reverse-engineered driver that works with old hardware > (latest supported POD is the HD300), but it doesn't support all features, > and it's quite hard to support new devices. Quite a while ago when Line6 noticed that a Linux driver is being developed for their hardware, they contacted me (yes, the other way round :-), and I had a brief conversation with a developer who provided some useful information. Unfortunately this guy doesn't seem to work at Line6 now, at least I didn't get a response when I tried to contact him again later. One thing he was curious about is how I found out the protocol by which host and device communicate with each other. He told me that it's ok for them if we use USB analyzing tools to observe the traffic (which is what I did), but reverse engineering the driver by inspecting the machine code is prohibited by the Line6 software license. Though the term "reverse engineering" is somewhat ambiguous, it might trigger undesired emotions in the context of asking for help :-) I don't know if you can alter the ticket, but if you can, it might be a good idea to make clear that we didn't violate their license. Kind regards, Markus |
From: L. A. G. <agi...@sy...> - 2012-11-29 08:36:33
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El 28/11/2012 23:30, Markus Grabner escribió: > One thing he was curious about is how I found out the protocol by which host > and device communicate with each other. He told me that it's ok for them if we > use USB analyzing tools to observe the traffic (which is what I did), but > reverse engineering the driver by inspecting the machine code is prohibited by > the Line6 software license. Though the term "reverse engineering" is somewhat > ambiguous, it might trigger undesired emotions in the context of asking for > help :-) Ahhh, I see. I used the 'reverse engineering' as the general term of 'making something work using (in some way) a working instance and trying to replicate its behavior'. Didn't know that it could trigger bad feelings. > > I don't know if you can alter the ticket, but if you can, it might be a good > idea to make clear that we didn't violate their license. I've been able to "add a message" to the ticket, clarifying that when I referred to reverse engineering I meant using USB analyzing tools, not disassembling their binary code. Hope that helps :) Regards, L. Alberto Giménez |
From: L. A. G. <agi...@sy...> - 2012-11-29 15:09:10
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El 28/11/2012 21:33, L. Alberto Giménez escribió: > Hi, > > I've just opened a support request with Line6. I'm trying to convince the to help us > to support their hardware on Linux. Well, this is sad. After adding a message this morning to clarify the 'reverse engineering stuff' as asked by Markus, now I can't see the support ticket anymore. I have the ID (and the URL http://line6.com/account/tickets/edit/195543), but it just redirects to the main Support Tickets (empty) page. There is no 'ticket history' option so I just can't see its state. It seems that it has been just deleted, without a mere reply. I'm thinking of opening a new one saying that 'the old ticket disappeared by unknown reasons' and see how do they act, but I think that it is a very bad thing for a company to just neglect their users. Especially those that are not requesting new features or are bragging about when the new firmware will be released, but just want to work on them for themselves. Regards everyone, L. Alberto Gimenez |
From: L. A. G. <agi...@sy...> - 2012-12-20 20:40:12
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On Thu, Nov 29, 2012 at 04:08:54PM +0100, "L. Alberto Giménez" wrote: > El 28/11/2012 21:33, L. Alberto Giménez escribió: > > Hi, > > > > I've just opened a support request with Line6. I'm trying to convince the to help us > > to support their hardware on Linux. > > Well, this is sad. After adding a message this morning to clarify the > 'reverse engineering stuff' as asked by Markus, now I can't see the > support ticket anymore. Hey, after a couple of weeks, the ticket re-appeared with a support guy reply. It said the standard 'Linux is not supported' and that the support tickets should be used for problems using their supported systems. The guy directed me to the feedback form. I resent the same text with the modifications pointed out by Markus (i.e. change 'reverse-engineered' by 'used a USB monitor'). I don't have any hope of getting a reply, but not doing anything at all wouldn't mean a reply either :) If you want, and/or if you have friends using Linux and owing a Line6 device, please ask them to write to Line6. It may be futile, but it's better than not doing anything at all. I'll keep you updated! Regards, -- L. Alberto Giménez JabberID agi...@ja... GnuPG key ID 0x3BAABDE1 |