Re: [PATCH v2 01/10] devm-helpers: introduce devm_mutex_init

From: George Stark
Date: Wed Dec 06 2023 - 13:58:06 EST



Hello Hans

Thanks for the review.

On 12/6/23 18:01, Hans de Goede wrote:
Hi George,

On 12/4/23 19:05, George Stark wrote:
Using of devm API leads to certain order of releasing resources.
So all dependent resources which are not devm-wrapped should be deleted
with respect to devm-release order. Mutex is one of such objects that
often is bound to other resources and has no own devm wrapping.
Since mutex_destroy() actually does nothing in non-debug builds
frequently calling mutex_destroy() is just ignored which is safe for now
but wrong formally and can lead to a problem if mutex_destroy() is
extended so introduce devm_mutex_init().

Signed-off-by: George Stark <gnstark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
---
include/linux/devm-helpers.h | 18 ++++++++++++++++++
1 file changed, 18 insertions(+)

diff --git a/include/linux/devm-helpers.h b/include/linux/devm-helpers.h
index 74891802200d..2f56e476776f 100644
--- a/include/linux/devm-helpers.h
+++ b/include/linux/devm-helpers.h
@@ -76,4 +76,22 @@ static inline int devm_work_autocancel(struct device *dev,
return devm_add_action(dev, devm_work_drop, w);
}
+static inline void devm_mutex_release(void *res)
+{
+ mutex_destroy(res);
+}
+
+/**
+ * devm_mutex_init - Resource-managed mutex initialization
+ * @dev: Device which lifetime work is bound to
+ * @lock: Pointer to a mutex
+ *
+ * Initialize mutex which is automatically destroyed when driver is detached.
+ */
+static inline int devm_mutex_init(struct device *dev, struct mutex *lock)
+{
+ mutex_init(lock);
+ return devm_add_action_or_reset(dev, devm_mutex_release, lock);
+}
+
#endif

mutex_destroy() only actually does anything if CONFIG_DEBUG_MUTEXES
is set, otherwise it is an empty inline-stub.

Adding a devres resource to the device just to call an empty inline
stub which is a no-op seems like a waste of resources. IMHO it
would be better to change this to:

static inline int devm_mutex_init(struct device *dev, struct mutex *lock)
{
mutex_init(lock);
#ifdef CONFIG_DEBUG_MUTEXES
return devm_add_action_or_reset(dev, devm_mutex_release, lock);
#else
return 0;
#endif
}

To avoid the unnecessary devres allocation when
CONFIG_DEBUG_MUTEXES is not set.

Honestly saying I don't like unnecessary devres allocation either but the proposed approach has its own price:

1) we'll have more than one place with branching if mutex_destroy is empty or not using indirect condition. If suddenly mutex_destroy is extended for non-debug code (in upstream branch or e.g. by someone for local debug) than there'll be a problem.

2) If mutex_destroy is empty or not depends on CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT option too. When CONFIG_PREEMPT_RT is on mutex_destroy is always empty.

As I see it only the mutex interface (mutex.h) has to say definitely if mutex_destroy must be called. Probably we could add some define to include/linux/mutex.h,like IS_MUTEX_DESTROY_REQUIRED and declare it near mutex_destroy definition itself.

I tried to put devm_mutex_init itself in mutex.h and it could've helped too but it's not the place for devm API.


Regards,

Hans





--
Best regards
George