Re: [PATCH v2 1/2] dt-bindings: gpio: add gpio-aggregator binding

[Geert Uytterhoeven]

Hi James,

On Fri, 13 Feb 2026 at 23:56, James Hilliard <james.hilliard1@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Fri, Feb 13, 2026 at 7:34 AM Rob Herring <robh@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > On Thu, Feb 12, 2026 at 3:22 PM James Hilliard
> > <james.hilliard1@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > In terms of userspace vs kernel drivers...the current situation
> > > for my hardware at the moment is that it's effectively a hybrid
> > > situation, some peripheral board components like eeproms and
> > > temperature sensors have proper kernel drivers, these would be
> > > on the i2c lines for the connectors. There's also uart lines as well
> > > for high speed communications and plug detection GPIOs, reset
> > > GPIOs and reset detect GPIOs on the connectors.
> >
> > All that should be in a connector driver IMO. For purposes of the
> > binding, I don't really care where you handle things. I do care if
> > where is influencing the binding design.
>
> Would a connector driver require moving all driver logic to
> the kernel? Or would it allow for hybrid architectures like mine
> where userspace retains significant control?

That is up to the driver.

BTW, if you connector uses only GPIOs, you can already use the GPIO aggregator:
1. Write DT bindings for your connector, with a real compatible value,
2. Add the real compatible value to gpio_aggregator_dt_ids[].

Gr{oetje,eeting}s,

                        Geert

-- 
Geert Uytterhoeven -- There's lots of Linux beyond ia32 -- geert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

In personal conversations with technical people, I call myself a hacker. But
when I'm talking to journalists I just say "programmer" or something like that.
                                -- Linus Torvalds