A device driver, or a software driver is a specific type of computer software, typically developed to allow interaction with hardware devices. Typically this constitutes an interface for communicating with the device, through the specific computer bus or communications subsystem that the hardware is connected to, providing commands to and/or receiving data from the device, and on the other end, the requisite interfaces to the operating system and software applications. Often called a driver for short, it is a specialized hardware dependent computer program which is also operating system specific that enables another program, typically an operating system or applications software package or computer program running under the operating system kernel, to interact transparently with a hardware device, and usually provides the requisite interrupt handling necessary for any necessary asynchronous time-dependent hardware interfacing needs.

Device driver philosophy

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The key design goal of device drivers is abstraction. Every model of hardware (even within the same class of device) is different. Newer models also are released by manufacturers that provide more reliable or better performance and these newer models are often controlled differently.

Computers and their operating systems cannot be expected to know how to control every device, both now and in the future. To solve this problem, OSes essentially dictate how every type of device should be controlled. The function of the device driver is then to translate these OS mandated function calls into device specific calls. In theory a new device, which is controlled in a new manner, should function correctly if a suitable driver is available. This new driver will ensure that the device appears to operate as usual from the operating systems' point of view.

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Ik ben onder de indruk over hoeveel hardware Windows 7 herkent en evt zelf drivers voor gaat halen bij de fabrikant.
simpll_peter (Peter van der Linden) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:25:12 -0000
Ik ben onder de indruk over hoeveel hardware Windows 7 herkent en evt zelf drivers voor gaat halen bij de fabrikant.
wants everyone to be careful drivers over the next few days. I just saw four accidents in my short journey out to the hardware store.
JoeFootball (Joe H) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 21:37:28 -0000
wants everyone to be careful drivers over the next few days. I just saw four accidents in my short journey out to the hardware store.
Hardware-Peripherals: Where can I get kk266 plus drivers http://forum.techgle.com/showthread.php?t=260945
techglehardware (Hardware Zone) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:32:15 -0000
Hardware-Peripherals: Where can I get kk266 plus drivers http://forum.techgle.com/showthread.php?t=260945
Hardware-Peripherals: Program needs MCI drivers installed http://forum.techgle.com/showthread.php?t=260940
techglehardware (Hardware Zone) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 20:26:17 -0000
Hardware-Peripherals: Program needs MCI drivers installed http://forum.techgle.com/showthread.php?t=260940
RT @cupofjava1961: Why do hardware companies not provide linux drivers with their products? Conspiracy?
heidilore (Heiðilore) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:20:21 -0000
RT @cupofjava1961: Why do hardware companies not provide linux drivers with their products? Conspiracy?
Maintain Up To Date Drivers - identifies hardware devices and will locate the most up to date drivers. http://bit.ly/39xKNP
PCWebTech (Kety Price) Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:34:07 -0000
Maintain Up To Date Drivers - identifies hardware devices and will locate the most up to date drivers. http://bit.ly/39xKNP

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