Re: [PATCHv4 10/17] pps: use BUG_ON for kernel API safety checks

From: Rodolfo Giometti
Date: Sat Nov 20 2010 - 13:30:29 EST


On Sat, Nov 20, 2010 at 09:01:41AM -0800, Joe Perches wrote:
> > > - if ((event & (PPS_CAPTUREASSERT | PPS_CAPTURECLEAR)) == 0) {
> > > - dev_err(pps->dev, "unknown event (%x)\n", event);
> > > - return;
> > > - }
> > > + /* check event type */
> > > + BUG_ON((event & (PPS_CAPTUREASSERT | PPS_CAPTURECLEAR)) == 0);
> >
> > Ack.
> >
> > This is a correct usage of BUG_ON. :)
>
> I don't think that's true.
>
> /*
> * Don't use BUG() or BUG_ON() unless there's really no way out; one
> * example might be detecting data structure corruption in the middle
> * of an operation that can't be backed out of. If the (sub)system
> * can somehow continue operating, perhaps with reduced functionality,
> * it's probably not BUG-worthy.
> *
> * If you're tempted to BUG(), think again: is completely giving up
> * really the *only* solution? There are usually better options, where
> * users don't need to reboot ASAP and can mostly shut down cleanly.
> */

If (event & (PPS_CAPTUREASSERT | PPS_CAPTURECLEAR)) == 0 then PPS's
data has been corrupted. The PPS subsystem doesn't work correctly even
if the whole system still continues running.

However I already have not acknowledged the patch.

Ciao,

Rodolfo

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