tl;dr: Do you want to help upstreaming the existing N9 drivers?

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Specification of the issue

Bibliography - in post #2

As you may know, there was an initiative to update the N9/N950 kernel. [1] While the project succeeded [2] (only the GPS driver was missing), the patches were never sent upstream. This happened due to various reasons. [2]

This means that we're stuck with a 3-year-old kernel on our devices. Some of the drivers depend on closed source blobs. (which of them are needed is not documented very well)

This is a blocker for some projects. Such an example is DebiaN900, an initiative to bring native Debian to N900. If the drivers were upstreamed, this initiative would've extended to N9/N950 a long time ago. [3] In fact, wicket himself said he would support the Harmattan devices if the kernel were properly upstreamed. [4]

Would you like to help us upstream the kernel? Some cases are easy (it's just the coding style that needs fixing), some cases may be challenging. If you don't have a physical device but would like to help anyway, let us know. Maybe we'll find something for you too

Tasks pending [stage 1]:

• create a table on elinux.org indicating which areas are possibly not covered by the upstream kernel [free for taking]
• contact N900 kernel hackers about what has already been done by the N900 folks [free for taking]
• add bibliography about switching to DeviceTree [free for taking]
• developing a testing procedure [community]

Future tasks [stage 2]:

• real kernel development [on hold]
• real testing (N9) - peterleinchen [ for taking, multiple people]
• real testing (N950) - marmistrz [for taking, multiple people]

Current team:

• marmistrz [working on the BH1770 driver]
• filip.pz [working on the N9 display]
• hedayat (will confirm once the work has started)
• danpio