linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH with Coccinelle?] Deletion of unnecessary checks before specific function calls

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Message-ID: <5317A59D.4@users.sourceforge.net>
Date:	Wed, 05 Mar 2014 23:30:53 +0100
From:	SF Markus Elfring <elfring@...rs.sourceforge.net>
To:	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org
CC:	Coccinelle <cocci@...teme.lip6.fr>, kernel-janitors@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH with Coccinelle?] Deletion of unnecessary checks before
 specific function calls

> If you are convinced that dropping the null tests is a good idea, then you 
> can submit the patch that makes the change to the relevant maintainers and 
> mailing lists.

Hello,

A couple of functions perform input parameter validation before their
implementations will try further actions with side effects. Some calling
functions perform similar safety checks.

Functions which release a system resource are often documented in the way that
they tolerate the passing of a null pointer for example. I do not see a need
because of this fact that a function caller repeats a corresponding check.

Now I would like to propose such a change again.

1. Extension of the infrastructure for the analysis tool "coccicheck"
   Semantic patch patterns can help to identify update candidates also in the
Linux source file hierarchy.

https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux-stable.git/tree/scripts/coccinelle?id=79f0345fefaafb7cde301a830471edd21a37989b

2. Clarification for some automated update suggestions
   My source code search approach found seventy functions at least which might
need another review and corresponding corrections for Linux 3.14-rc5. Further
software development will point out even more potentially open issues.

Regards,
Markus
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