Re: [PATCH] v2 Docs: changes.rst: introduce optional column

[Nicolas Schier]

On Mon, Aug 31, 2026 at 05:25:22PM +0200, Manuel Ebner wrote:
> The optional tag isn't obvious nor defined. Therefore replace with column.

Why do you throw away the 'Command to check the version' column?  At 
work, we have a script that uses these commands to check the actual 
tooling versions.

If there is a reason for change, please document it in the commit 
message.

> 
> Signed-off-by: Manuel Ebner <manuelebnerli@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> ---
>  Documentation/process/changes.rst | 84 +++++++++++++++----------------
>  1 file changed, 42 insertions(+), 42 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/Documentation/process/changes.rst b/Documentation/process/changes.rst
> index b3fa980b63e3..905ac0f6cdc5 100644
> --- a/Documentation/process/changes.rst
> +++ b/Documentation/process/changes.rst
> @@ -29,49 +29,49 @@ systems; obviously, if you don't have any PC Card hardware, for example,
>  you probably do not need to concern yourself with pcmciautils.
>  
>  ====================== ===============  ========================================
> -        Program        Minimal version       Command to check the version
> +        Program        Minimal version  Required for 

Do you want to align the column headers to the left or center them?

>  ====================== ===============  ========================================
> -bash                   4.2              bash --version
> -bc                     1.06.95          bc --version
> -bindgen (optional)     0.71.1           bindgen --version
> -binutils               2.30             ld -v
> -bison                  2.0              bison --version
> -btrfs-progs            0.18             btrfs --version
> -Clang/LLVM (optional)  17.0.1           clang --version
> -e2fsprogs              1.41.4           e2fsck -V
> -flex                   2.5.35           flex --version
> -gdb                    7.2              gdb --version
> -genisoimage            1.1.11           genisoimage --version
> -GNU awk (optional)     5.1.0            gawk --version
> -GNU C                  8.1              gcc --version
> -GNU make               4.0              make --version
> -GNU tar                1.28             tar --version
> -GRUB                   0.93             grub --version || grub-install --version
> -gtags (optional)       6.6.5            gtags --version
> -iproute2               6.14.0           ip -V
> -iptables               1.4.2            iptables -V
> -jfsutils               1.1.3            fsck.jfs -V
> -kmod                   13               kmod -V
> -liblzma                5.8.1            lzma -V
> -lzop                   1.04             lzop -V
> -mcelog                 0.6              mcelog --version
> -mkimage (optional)     2017.01          mkimage --version
> -mtools                 4.0.49           mtools -V
> -nfs-utils              1.0.5            showmount --version
> -openssl & libcrypto    1.0.0            openssl version
> -pahole                 1.26             pahole --version
> -pcmciautils            004              pccardctl -V
> -PPP                    2.4.0            pppd --version
> -procps                 3.2.0            ps --version
> -Python                 3.9.x            python3 --version
> -quota-tools            3.09             quota -V
> -Rust (optional)        1.85.0           rustc --version
> -Sphinx\ [#f1]_         3.4.3            sphinx-build --version
> -squashfs-tools         4.0              mksquashfs -version
> -syslinux               6.04             syslinux --version
> -udev                   081              udevadm --version
> -util-linux             2.10o            mount --version
> -xfsprogs               2.6.0            xfs_db -V
> +bash                   4.2              
> +bc                     1.06.95          
> +bindgen                0.71.1           generate Rust bindings
> +binutils               2.30             
> +bison                  2.0              
> +btrfs-progs            0.18             
> +Clang/LLVM             17.0.1           alternative to GNU C (gcc)
> +e2fsprogs              1.41.4           ext4
> +flex                   2.5.35           
> +gdb                    7.2              
> +genisoimage            1.1.11           
> +GNU awk                5.1.0            objtool
> +GNU C                  8.1              
> +GNU make               4.0              
> +GNU tar                1.28             
> +GRUB                   0.93             
> +gtags (optional)       6.6.5            
> +iproute2               6.14.0           
> +iptables               1.4.2            
> +jfsutils               1.1.3            
> +kmod                   13               
> +liblzma                5.8.1            
> +lzop                   1.04             
> +mcelog                 0.6              
> +mkimage                2017.01          ARCH=arc, arm, or powerpc
> +mtools                 4.0.49           
> +nfs-utils              1.0.5            
> +openssl & libcrypto    1.0.0            
> +pahole                 1.26             
> +pcmciautils            004              
> +PPP                    2.4.0            
> +procps                 3.2.0            
> +Python                 3.9.x            
> +quota-tools            3.09             
> +Rust                   1.85.0           CONFIG_RUST=y
> +Sphinx\ [#f1]_         3.4.3            
> +squashfs-tools         4.0              
> +syslinux               6.04             
> +udev                   081              
> +util-linux             2.10o            
> +xfsprogs               2.6.0            
>  ====================== ===============  ========================================
>  
>  .. [#f1] Sphinx is needed only to build the Kernel documentation

I kind of like the "Required for" column w/ naming 
concrete Kconfig symbols or envs like ARCH.  I think it would be good to 
get this a bit more complete, where possible.

Kind regards,
Nicolas

Attachment: signature.asc
Description: PGP signature