linux-kernel - Re: [RFC] bpf.2: Use standard types and attributes

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Date:   Sat, 24 Apr 2021 19:56:37 +0200
From:   "Alejandro Colomar (man-pages)" <alx.manpages@...il.com>
To:     Alexei Starovoitov <alexei.starovoitov@...il.com>,
        bpf <bpf@...r.kernel.org>
Cc:     "Michael Kerrisk (man-pages)" <mtk.manpages@...il.com>,
        linux-man <linux-man@...r.kernel.org>,
        LKML <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>, libc-alpha@...rceware.org,
        gcc-patches@....gnu.org
Subject: Re: [RFC] bpf.2: Use standard types and attributes

Hello Alexei,

On 4/24/21 1:20 AM, Alexei Starovoitov wrote:
> Nack.
> The man page should describe the kernel api the way it is in .h file.

Why?

When glibc uses __size_t (or any other non-standard types) just because 
the standard doesn't allow it to define some types in some specific 
header, the manual pages document the equivalent standard type, (i.e., 
if glibc uses __size_t, we document size_t).

The compiler, AFAIK (gcc is CCd, so they can jump in if I'm wrong), 
using uint32_t in every situation where __u32 is expected.  They're both 
typedefs for the same basic type.

I can understand why Linux will keep using u32 types (and their __ user 
space variants), but that doesn't mean user space programs need to use 
the same type.

If we have a standard syntax for fixed-width integral types (and for 
anything, actually), the manual pages should probably follow it, 
whenever possible.  Any deviation from the standard (be it C or POSIX) 
should have a very good reason to be;  otherwise, it only creates confusion.

Thanks,

Alex

-- 
Alejandro Colomar
Linux man-pages comaintainer; https://www.kernel.org/doc/man-pages/
Senior SW Engineer; http://www.alejandro-colomar.es/