Re: [PATCH v2] ACPI: NFIT: Fix local use of devm_*()

From: Dan Williams
Date: Fri Oct 13 2023 - 13:05:50 EST


Wilczynski, Michal wrote:
> On 10/13/2023 6:38 PM, Dan Williams wrote:
> > Michal Wilczynski wrote:
> >> devm_*() family of functions purpose is managing memory attached to a
> >> device. So in general it should only be used for allocations that should
> >> last for the whole lifecycle of the device.
> > No, this assertion is not accurate, if it were strictly true then
> > devm_kfree() should be deleted. This patch is only a cleanup to switch
> > the automatic cleanup pattern from devm to the new cleanup.h helpers.
>
> The memory in question is only used locally in a function, so there is no reason
> to use devm_*() family of functions. I think devm_kfree() is more for special
> cases where the memory is meant to be used for the whole lifecycle of device,
> but some special case occurs and it's not and it needs to be freed.
>
> This is an incorrect API usage. Would you propose to change all memory
> allocations currently being done to devm_*() family simply because devm_kfree()
> exists ?

Michal, please work with someone else to get these cleanups upstream, I
am done with this thread.