Re: [2.6 patch] always enable FW_LOADER unless EMBEDDED=y

From: Greg KH
Date: Wed Jun 11 2008 - 14:42:17 EST


On Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 11:23:20AM +0300, Adrian Bunk wrote:
> On Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 02:28:59PM -0700, Greg KH wrote:
> > On Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 09:12:06PM +0300, Adrian Bunk wrote:
> > > On Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 09:24:50AM -0700, Greg KH wrote:
> > > > On Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 07:04:08PM +0300, Adrian Bunk wrote:
> > > > > James Bottomley recently discovered that we have
> > > > > {request,release}_firmware() dummies for the case of the actual
> > > > > functions not being available and has a fix for the bug that was
> > > > > actually causing build errors for built-in users with
> > > > > CONFIG_FW_LOADER=m.
> > > > >
> > > > > But now missing selects on FW_LOADER are no longer visible at
> > > > > compile-time at all and can become runtime problems.
> > > > >
> > > > > FW_LOADER is infrastructure with relatively small codesize we can
> > > > > safely enable for everyone, and only for people who really need small
> > > > > kernels (and can be expected to know what they are doing) it matters
> > > > > being able to disable it.
> > > > >
> > > > > This patch therefore always sets FW_LOADER=y and allows users only to
> > > > > disable it with EMBEDDED=y.
> > > > >
> > > > > As a bonus, we can then get rid of all "select FW_LOADER" plus the due
> > > > > to it required "depends on HOTPLUG" which removes some complexity from
> > > > > our Kconfig files.
> > > >
> > > > Well, we can't get rid of that if EMBEDDED is set, right?
> > >
> > > No, if EMBEDDED is set and HOTPLUG is not set you will not be able to
> > > enable FW_LOADER (the "depends on HOTPLUG" for FW_LOADER has to stay,
> > > but all the options that currently select FW_LOADER no longer need the
> > > dependency).
> >
> > Ok, but what about the point that the options that are wanting FW_LOADER
> > in that situation? I know EMBEDDED is tough to get right as you can
> > shoot yourself in the foot very easily, but this seems like we are going
> > to make it even harder to use properly.
>
> Currently missing selects can result in a build error.
>
> After James' patch to fix the dummy functions (that should have worked
> from day 1) it will instead become a runtime problem.

Ah, yes, that should be fine then.

Can you bounce me the patch again?

thanks,

greg k-h
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