Thread

Building a Linux GPU Driver for the M4 Mac Mini in One Month

422 points · 290 comments · ADevWithAnIdea

thrwy19940314 · 1789509926 · focus · HN ↗
All this work is tainted since the poster is ex-Apple[1]. There is no way Linux will take that code, since people from Apple also contribute to Linux and this creates a major conflict.
There's also ongoing issues around Codex for this sort of thing, given Apple is suing OpenAI over stolen trade secrets[2]. And nobody knows whether training data in other models is similarly tainted.
[1]: <a href="https://codyho.dev/documents/cody_ho_resume.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://codyho.dev/documents/cody_ho_resume.pdf
[2]: <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/10/apple-sues-openai-trade-secrets" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jul/10/apple-sue...
1. nine_k · 1789511769 · focus · HN ↗
  There were and are many important pieces of Linux kernel that live out of tree; ZFS is a big example.
  The problem with this driver is not licensing or code quality; I assume it's under a threat of receiving C&D letter, or maybe also a legal suit for breaking some NDA.
  1. cromka · 1789513202 · focus · HN ↗
    > important pieces of Linux kernel that live out of tree; ZFS is a big example.
    Including the proprietary GPU drivers. If this MacBook driver end up out of tree, so be it.

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