[suggestion] Move linux-firmware to optional dependencies
While linux-firmware
has been split and the firmware inside is now compressed, which has significantly reduced the package size, having linux-firmware
as a hard dependency on our main kernels is still pulling in a fair amount of MB's in dependencies alone.
Arch x64 has the package as an optional dependency, while Arch Linux ARM and Manjaro x64 has it as a hard dependency right now.
We could in theory do what Arch x64 does and move it to optional dependencies, as not all devices are actually using firmware from that package. Of course, those that do, will have to install it. The best way to do that is via the device profile in arm-profiles/devices.
I don't have an overview of what devices need something from linux-firmware and which don't.
So see this as an opportunity to think about this and if your device needs it, add it to the device profile already. Just to be on the safe side. But for convinience, I'll start a little list here of devices that need it and for what.
When a device has been checked it's because it has linux-firmware
in it's device profile.
-
Pinebook Pro (video out over USB-C and Wifi/bt on new batch) -
RockPro64 (video over USB-C) -
Generic (video over USB-C and likely other stuff) -
Quartz64 Model B (Wifi/bt)