linux-headers package

wolf550e · n00b Joined: 20 May 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Israel

Maybe it's a silly question, but why do we have a separate package for linux-headers? Don't all those include files come from the kernel source? And we have the kernel source installed, why not get the headers from that? Won't the "best" headers come from the version of the kernel I'm using, rather than two version back (presently my kernel is 2.6.13, headers are 2.6.11)?

I don't know where's the best place to ask such a question.

alistair · Retired Dev Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 869

Well i can't say for certain that this is the right answer but i know that some programs/drivers require kernel headers for compilation. They are therefore useful if you dont want the full kernel sources but still need to compile something. For instance if you have very very limited hard drive space. besides from this point im not to sure

I do agree that for most ppl (including yourself) the kernel-headers are unneccessary.

Genone · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 9:43 am Post subject: Re: linux-headers package

kallamej · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2005 9:46 am Post subject:

Please see and follow up to topic 199224.

Moved from Portage & Programming to Duplicate Threads.
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