Open Source Summit Europe + ELC Europe 2017

x86 platform drivers cover the final bits of integration that make things like hotkeys, LEDs, radio switches, and screen orientation work on laptops, as well as certain aspects of thermal and power management work across all types of platforms. They make or break the first time user experience with many platforms, and yet are inevitably one of the last things to be completed due to a variety of challenges. Besides the obvious lack of OEM participation and hardware availability, developing these platform drivers is complicated by systems designed for a fundamentally different software ecosystem. Darren will describe the nature of this subsystem, recent changes to scope, current development efforts and challenges, and leave attendees with an invitation to get involved with improving the scope of support using their own systems.