Re: [2/2] virtiofs: Improve error handling in virtio_fs_get_tree()

From: Markus Elfring
Date: Tue Jan 02 2024 - 11:50:58 EST


>> It is probably clear that the function call “kfree(NULL)” does not perform
>> data processing which is really useful for the caller.
>> Such a call is kept in some cases because programmers did not like to invest
>> development resources for its avoidance.
>
> on the contrary, it is extremely useful for callers to not have to perform
> the NULL check themselves.

Some function calls indicate a resource allocation failure by a null pointer.
Such pointer checks are generally performed for error detection
so that appropriate exception handling can be chosen.


> It also mirrors userspace where free(NULL)
> is valid according to ISO/ANSI C, so eases the transition for programmers
> who are coming from userspace. It costs nothing in the implementation
> as it is part of the check for the ZERO_PTR.

How many development efforts do you dare to spend on more complete
and efficient error/exception handling?

Regards,
Markus