Re: [PATCH v5 5/6] mfd: dt-bindings: add device tree bindings for Hi3519 sysctrl

[Arnd Bergmann]

On Tuesday 12 January 2016 17:28:05 xuejiancheng wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>> Not yet.
> >>>> Arnd Bergmann and Rob Herring all suggested adding a specific compatible string
> >>>> with the SOC name. This binding is just used for describing the compatible string now.
> >>>> When more functions on hi3519 SOC are added later, the specific driver will be also
> >>>> needed.
> >>>
> >>> Save this binding until it has more functionality.  We here "I'll add
> >>> to this later" all too often.
> >>>
> >>
> >> In the hi3519.dtsi file, there is a system-controller device node described like below:
> >> sysctrl: system-controller@12010000 {
> >>      compatible = "hisilicon,hi3519-sysctrl", "syscon";
> >>      reg = <0x12010000 0x1000>;
> >> };
> >> Do you mean that I should remove "hisilicon,hi3519-sysctrl" and just use "syscon" as the
> >> compatible string?ã
> > 
> > Where is this compatible string _used_?
> > 
> >> If I want to add "hisilicon,hi3519-sysctrl" for hi3519. where should I put this binding?
> >> Could you give some suggestions?  Thank you very much!
> > 
> > If you're not using the compatible i.e. the device doesn't have its
> > own driver yet, then there is no need to supply the binding at all, is
> > there?
> > 
> 
> OK. Thank you.
> 

Sorry for stepping in late here. I still think that every syscon device should
come with a specific compatible string, so we have the option of creating a
driver later on, and I'd like to see a binding document that lists those strings
(which I believe exists here).

It's really hard to add compatible strings later on, anything else we can
work around by keying off that string and adding a workaround in the kernel.

	Arnd