I’m not a Linux user nor do I need to purchase any webcams, but if I were in this situation I’d be counting my blessings thanks to Michel Xhaard. The 60 year old French physician is single-handedly responsible for writing 235 Linux drivers for cheapo Chinese webcams so you don’t go throwing it out the window when you realize it won’t work on your Linux box. What compels a man to write all those drivers? Is he same crazy French webcam nut? No, he seems to be a mild mannered individual who just wanted to take matters into his own hands. He was, as they say, mad as hell and wasn’t going to take it anymore.
It all started in 2003 when Michel purchased webcams for his daughters, but he soon realized that there was no Linux support and that’s when the spca50x project began. What fathers won’t do for their children brings a tear to my eye. The fact that he does this without any support is shocking, but then again most hobbyist don’t do this sort of thing for the glory. They do it because they don’t want to wait around for the big corps to listen to their pleas and it’s fun for them. Good on ya, Michel. If you’re a Linux user and you’re having trouble with your webcams then check out Michel’s page.
One man writes Linux drivers for 235 USB webcams [The Inquirer]