Re: [PATCH 4/8] iio: Add support for DA9150 GPADC

[Jonathan Cameron]

On 16/06/14 16:58, Opensource [Adam Thomson] wrote:
> On June 15, 2014 21:19, Jonathon Cameron wrote:
>
> > Hi Adam
> >
> > Reasonably clean code, but the _ channels stuff doesn't comply with the ABI
> > and is rather confusing.
>
> To be honest I did debate this in my head for a while. The reason I went with
> the current approach was to make the driver channel layout match that of the
> datasheet for the device. Sounds like it wasn't the correct direction though.
>
> > If it really does make sense to allow reading these channels at different
> > ranges (presumably to enhance the effective adc resolution) then we need
> > to control this via existing ABIs. Controlling it via scale with a
> > range attribute if required (read only but changes with whatever the
> > scale attribute it set to).
>
> Yes, with smaller range then you get a better degree of accuracy. Ok, will have
> a look at this and see if I can improve things based on your comments.
>
> > Often, for slow parts at least it makes little sense to have provide
> > software support for variable input ranges.
> >
> > Looking at what is covered, is it the case that only one option will make
> > sense for a given hardware setup? (cover the required range and nothing more).
> >
> > If so, perhaps this wants to go into the device tree or similar?
>
> Possibly. Having read your comments further on though, and given that
> it seems reasonable to use the range/scale attribute to choose the resolution,
> I'd prefer to opt for that approach (seems more flexible).
Perhaps, but if the reason for these differing ranges is that they tend
to be wired to lines that have well defined voltage ranges, then I'd move
it into setup data.  Leads to a cleaner driver.  Flexibility is good, but
only if actually helps anyone!
> > Please get rid of excess white space and comments that just tell you
> > something obvious about the code following them.
>
> Preferably I'd like to keep it this way as I think it makes the code
> easier to read, but if you're dead against it then I'll remove them.
The issue here is about making kernel review as easy as possible.  That often
involves making code (and particularly comments) conform to somewhat arbitrary
rules and conventions.  Just makes the reviewer/maintainers life somewhat easier.
You'll also probably get follow up patches removing all this stuff on the basis
of kernel style soon after we merge the driver anyway and those just get
irritating ;)
> > Linear in the coeeficients, so fine for raw output with a scale and offset.
>
> Ok will have a look at re-working this as per your comment.
>
> > Ah, so here is your reasoning behind the 'interesting' underscore channels.
> > This is just doing different range checks on the channel?  If so allow one
> > at a time and provide a writable scale info_mask element to control which
> > is used..
> >
> > Looks like there are only thes two channels doing this, so shouldn't be
> > too hard to support it via more conventional means.
>
> The GPIO, VBUS and VSYS related channels provide different ranges. I guess they
> should all follow the same approach for implementing this alternate range. So I
> will assume that for the 'repeat' channels where the same raw value is provided
> on both the _ and non _ channels only one channel should be provided.
Definitely.
> > Don't use the |=, just = and you can't avoid assigning reg above.
> > Actually, it's not complex enough that you couldn't just do it directly into
> > the write function and skip this local variable.
>
> Ok fine. Will update to tidy up.
>
> > Unlock first, then check for error.
>
> Yep. Makes sense. Will update.
>
> > The mixture of having defs here for the shift.
> > > +	/* MSBs - 8 bits */
> > > +	result |= result_regs[0] << 2;
> > and not here is inconsistent.  I honestly don't mind which way, but
> > just use one style.
> >
> > You could just use an endian conversion and shift the combined 16bit result
>
> Fair point. Will make this cleaner.
>
> > It very rarely makes sense to provide both raw and processed interfaces.
> > If the transform is nasty and non linear then userspace won't have the info
> > to do anything with it.  If the transform is linear, then provide scale
> > and offset and let userspace perform the computation.
>
> The charger module uses certain channels for its readings, and to me it makes
> more sense for that calculation to be done by the GPADC. However having looked
> at the inkern.c framework code it looks like if you request a processed channel
> and it's doesn't provide that feature, then the code drops to linear scaling if
> possible to provide the processed value. I take it this is the preferred
> approach then?
Yup.  Saves on replicating code.  Mostly the raw access stuff is there for consistency
with buffered access (where speed matters and we may or may not want to convert to
real units).  So you should provide the information to do the scaling anyway, so
just let the core code handle it for you.
> Just thought it was more consistent to see the calculation using
> dedicated functions (processed channel approach).
>
> > Get rid of this comment and any other ones that don't add any
> > actual information.  Also this is single line comment, please
> > check the comment syntax.
>
> As per previous comment on this topic.
>
> > Why a blank line here.
>
> Accidental. Will remove it.
>
> > The device register call is the one that exposes userspace interfaces. As
> > a general rule it wants to be the last thing in probe as everything
> > else should be setup first.
>
> Ok, that's something I missed. Will make the change.
>
> > > +#include <linux/iio/machine.h>
> > This isn't used in the header, so should be included in the c file, not here.
>
> Yes, is something I meant to remove during development increments. Consider it
> gone.
>
> > > +#include <linux/mfd/da9150/core.h>
> > Having moved the struct definition into the c file
> > this header include will not want to be here.
>
> I personally would prefer a separate header for the definitions as I believe
> this is tidier. Have never really liked struct definitions in c files.
Again, kernel coding style. Have everything as local as you can.
Makes it obvious nothing else uses the structure and also ever so slightly
cuts down on compile time (all helps!)

Anyhow, please bring them into the c code.   Have only stuff that is genuinely
shared between different c files in headers.  If those c files are in the same
directory then have the header within the directory as well.
> I could
> move this header to the same directory as the source file, if that is preferred.
> As it stands this header is only related to DA9150 in its current location, so
> is this a big issue? If not then I'd rather keep it as is.
>
> > > +/* Private data */
> > Why is this in the header?  Should be defined directly in the c file
> > as nothing outside the driver should be touching it.
>
> As per previous comment.

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