Re: [PATCH v5 6/6] i2c: use an IRQ to report Host Notify events, not alert

[Benjamin Tissoires]

Hi Wolfram,

On Nov 07 2016 or thereabouts, Wolfram Sang wrote:
> On Thu, Oct 13, 2016 at 02:10:40PM +0200, Benjamin Tissoires wrote:
> > The current SMBus Host Notify implementation relies on .alert() to
> > relay its notifications. However, the use cases where SMBus Host
> > Notify is needed currently is to signal data ready on touchpads.
> > 
> > This is closer to an IRQ than a custom API through .alert().
> > Given that the 2 touchpad manufacturers (Synaptics and Elan) that
> > use SMBus Host Notify don't put any data in the SMBus payload, the
> > concept actually matches one to one.
> 
> I see the advantages. The only question I have: What if we encounter
> devices in the future which do put data in the payload? Can this
> mechanism be extended to handle that?

I guess I haven't convinced you with my answer. Is there anything I can
do to get this series in v4.10 or do you prefer waiting for v4.11?

Cheers,
Benjamin

> 
> > 
> > Benefits are multiple:
> > - simpler code and API: the client will just have an IRQ, and
> >   nothing needs to be added in the adapter beside internally
> >   enabling it.
> > - no more specific workqueue, the threading is handled by IRQ core
> >   directly (when required)
> > - no more races when removing the device (the drivers are already
> >   required to disable irq on remove)
> > - simpler handling for drivers: use plain regular IRQs
> > - no more dependency on i2c-smbus for i2c-i801 (and any other adapter)
> > - the IRQ domain is created automatically when the adapter exports
> >   the Host Notify capability
> > - the IRQ are assign only if ACPI, OF and the caller did not assign
> >   one already
> > - the domain is automatically destroyed on remove
> > - fewer lines of code (minus 20, yeah!)
> > 
> > Signed-off-by: Benjamin Tissoires <benjamin.tissoires@xxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> Thanks for keeping at it!
>