Re: [PATCH v2 1/7] dt-bindings: net: Add bindings for Realtek PHYs

[Rob Herring]

On Wed, Jul 3, 2019 at 3:33 PM Andrew Lunn <andrew@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > I think if we're going to have custom properties for phys, we should
> > have a compatible string to at least validate whether the custom
> > properties are even valid for the node.
>
> Hi Rob
>
> What happens with other enumerable busses where a compatible string is
> not used?

We usually have a compatible. USB and PCI both do. Sometimes it is a
defined format based on VID/PID.

> The Ethernet PHY subsystem will ignore the compatible string and load
> the driver which fits the enumeration data. Using the compatible
> string only to get the right YAML validator seems wrong. I would
> prefer adding some other property with a clear name indicates its is
> selecting the validator, and has nothing to do with loading the
> correct driver. And it can then be used as well for USB and PCI
> devices etc.

Just because Linux happens to not use compatible really has nothing to
do with whether or not the nodes should have a compatible. What does
FreeBSD want? U-boot?

I don't follow how adding a validate property would help. It would
need to be 'validate-node-as-a-realtek-phy'. The schema selection is
done for each schema on a node by node basis and has to be based on
some data in the node (or always applied). Using compatible or node
name are just the default way.

Rob