linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] PM: Hide CONFIG

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Message-ID: <20110208141539.GI29850@opensource.wolfsonmicro.com>
Date:	Tue, 8 Feb 2011 14:15:39 +0000
From:	Mark Brown <broonie@...nsource.wolfsonmicro.com>
To:	Frank Rowand <frank.rowand@...sony.com>
Cc:	"Rafael J. Wysocki" <rjw@...k.pl>, Len Brown <len.brown@...el.com>,
	Alan Stern <stern@...land.harvard.edu>,
	linux-pm@...ts.linux-foundation.org, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org,
	Andrew Morton <akpm@...ux-foundation.org>,
	Dmitry Torokhov <dmitry.torokhov@...il.com>,
	linux-embedded@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH] PM: Hide CONFIG_PM from users

On Mon, Feb 07, 2011 at 06:52:00PM -0800, Frank Rowand wrote:
> On 02/07/11 04:22, Mark Brown wrote:

> > Since having the configuration option requires non-zero effort to
> > maintain, with ifdefery in most drivers, but it is used with vanishing
> > rarity it is simpler to just remove the option.

> Proof by assertion that it is used with vanishing rarity.

Sure, hopefully if it's incorrect people will come out of the woodwork
to correct me :)

> That is not a good method of getting feedback from users.

>  1) It immediately removes the ability to have CONFIG_PM undefined,
>     without first giving active users a chance to provide feedback.

Note that it's not a terribly difficult change to reverse; if someone
urgently does need to do so then I'd be surprised if they were able to
build a kernel but not cope with that change.

>  2) The removal of that ability is not obvious ("make oldconfig" does
>     not say anything about CONFIG_PM).  It is easy to overlook a
>     config change that happens silently.

It will expose the sub-options which actually do stuff, though - it's
only the top level option for PM.

> Would it be appropriate to use Documentation/feature-removal-schedule.txt
> if this truly will be removed?

I guess, though I'm a bit pessimistic about anyone actually noticing.
With Raphael's version it's not such a big deal as CONFIG_PM is selected
by other options that previously depended on it instead of being enabled
all the time.
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