Re: [PATCH v2 2/2] gpio: mmio: Use new flag BGPIOF_NO_INPUT.

From: Andy Shevchenko
Date: Mon Mar 13 2023 - 10:15:02 EST


On Mon, Mar 13, 2023 at 01:56:24PM +0000, Leonard, Niall wrote:
> On 12/02/2023 12:38, Andy Shevchenko wrote:
> > On Tue, Jan 31, 2023 at 01:49:38PM +0000, Niall Leonard wrote:
> >> Add new flag BGPIOF_NO_INPUT to header file.
> >> Use the existing shadow data register 'bgpio_data' to allow
> >> the last written value to be returned by the read operation
> >> when BGPIOF_NO_INPUT flag is set.
> >> Ensure this change only applies to the specific binding "wd,mbl-gpio".
> >
> > I'm wondering why do we need that.
> >
> > I mean the reading back the (possible cached) output value is the right thing
> > to do by default for GPIO (in output mode) or GPO. So, instead you can simply
> > check the current direction of the pin and return (cached) value.
> >
> > Or did I miss something?
> >
> My thinking here was that I don't want to break any existing code which
> relies on the read always reading the physical port.
> I'm going to rethink my approach here as I'm starting to think the
> better approach would be to modify the gpio-74xx-mmio.c driver to cater
> for this hardware.

That's why we need a greatest denominator here, right?

Currently we have a full inconsistency on how drivers are implementing
all this. What I'm suggesting is to always have the following:
1) if pin is input or OS/OD/OE/OC -- read input buffer;
2) if pin is output, always read (cached) value.

Yes, there is an opinion to find a short circuit by reading input in
the output mode, but I consider that impractical complication.

Note, that above will also satisfy all (common) hardware limitations.

--
With Best Regards,
Andy Shevchenko