Date:   Fri, 29 Apr 2022 15:47:08 +0300
From:   Laurent Pinchart <laurent.pinchart@...asonboard.com>
To:     Jacopo Mondi <jacopo@...ndi.org>
Cc:     Hans Verkuil <hverkuil@...all.nl>, Eugen.Hristev@...rochip.com,
        linux-media@...r.kernel.org, devicetree@...r.kernel.org,
        linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, linux-arm-kernel@...ts.infradead.org,
        Claudiu.Beznea@...rochip.com, robh+dt@...nel.org,
        Nicolas.Ferre@...rochip.com
Subject: Re: [PATCH v9 08/13] media: atmel: atmel-isc: change format
 propagation to subdev into only verification

On Fri, Apr 29, 2022 at 02:38:59PM +0200, Jacopo Mondi wrote:
> On Fri, Apr 29, 2022 at 03:28:11PM +0300, Laurent Pinchart wrote:
> > On Fri, Apr 29, 2022 at 02:23:45PM +0200, Hans Verkuil wrote:
> > > On 29/04/2022 14:02, Laurent Pinchart wrote:
> > > > On Fri, Apr 29, 2022 at 01:17:27PM +0200, Hans Verkuil wrote:
> > > >> On 29/04/2022 12:20, Laurent Pinchart wrote:
> > > >>> On Fri, Apr 29, 2022 at 12:13:46PM +0200, Hans Verkuil wrote:
> > > >>>> On 29/04/2022 12:07, Laurent Pinchart wrote:
> > > >>>>> On Fri, Apr 29, 2022 at 11:58:48AM +0200, Jacopo Mondi wrote:
> > > >>>>>> On Fri, Apr 29, 2022 at 10:43:09AM +0200, Hans Verkuil wrote:
> > > >>>>>>> On 29/04/2022 10:28, Eugen.Hristev@...rochip.com wrote:
> > > >>>>>>>> On 4/29/22 11:17 AM, Hans Verkuil wrote:
> > > >>>>>>>>> On 10/03/2022 10:51, Eugen Hristev wrote:
> > > >>>>>>>>>> As a top MC video driver, the atmel-isc should not propagate the format to the
> > > >>>>>>>>>> subdevice, it should rather check at start_streaming() time if the subdev is properly
> > > >>>>>>>>>> configured with a compatible format.
> > > >>>>>>>>>> Removed the whole format finding logic, and reworked the format verification
> > > >>>>>>>>>> at start_streaming time, such that the ISC will return an error if the subdevice
> > > >>>>>>>>>> is not properly configured. To achieve this, media_pipeline_start
> > > >>>>>>>>>> is called and a link_validate callback is created to check the formats.
> > > >>>>>>>>>> With this being done, the module parameter 'sensor_preferred' makes no sense
> > > >>>>>>>>>> anymore. The ISC should not decide which format the sensor is using. The
> > > >>>>>>>>>> ISC should only cope with the situation and inform userspace if the streaming
> > > >>>>>>>>>> is possible in the current configuration.
> > > >>>>>>>>>> The redesign of the format propagation has also risen the question of the
> > > >>>>>>>>>> enumfmt callback. If enumfmt is called with an mbus_code, the enumfmt handler
> > > >>>>>>>>>> should only return the formats that are supported for this mbus_code.
> > > >>>>>>>>>> Otherwise, the enumfmt will report all the formats that the ISC could output.
> > > >>>>>>>>>> With this rework, the dynamic list of user formats is removed. It makes no
> > > >>>>>>>>>> more sense to identify at complete time which formats the sensor could emit,
> > > >>>>>>>>>> and add those into a separate dynamic list.
> > > >>>>>>>>>> The ISC will start with a simple preconfigured default format, and at
> > > >>>>>>>>>> link validate time, decide whether it can use the format that is configured
> > > >>>>>>>>>> on the sink or not.
> > > >>>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>> Signed-off-by: Eugen Hristev <eugen.hristev@...rochip.com>
> > > >>>>>>>>>> Reviewed-by: Jacopo Mondi <jacopo@...ndi.org>
> > > >>>>>>>>>> ---
> > > >>>>>>>>>> Changes in v9:
> > > >>>>>>>>>> - isc_link_validate now static
> > > >>>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>> Changes in v7:
> > > >>>>>>>>>> - minor typos as suggested by Jacopo
> > > >>>>>>>>>> - small changes, reduce some indentation, modified an index, as suggested by
> > > >>>>>>>>>> Jacopo
> > > >>>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>> Changes in v6:
> > > >>>>>>>>>> - reworked a bit enum_fmt as suggested by Jacopo
> > > >>>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>> Changes in v5:
> > > >>>>>>>>>> - removed user_formats dynamic list as it is now pointless
> > > >>>>>>>>>> - greatly simplified the enum_fmt function
> > > >>>>>>>>>> - removed some init code that was useless now
> > > >>>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>> Changes in v4:
> > > >>>>>>>>>> - moved validation code into link_validate and used media_pipeline_start
> > > >>>>>>>>>> - merged this patch with the enum_fmt patch which was previously in v3 of
> > > >>>>>>>>>> the series
> > > >>>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>> Changes in v3:
> > > >>>>>>>>>> - clamp to maximum resolution once the frame size from the subdev is found
> > > >>>>>>>>>>   drivers/media/platform/atmel/atmel-isc-base.c | 412 ++++++++----------
> > > >>>>>>>>>>   .../media/platform/atmel/atmel-isc-scaler.c   |   5 +
> > > >>>>>>>>>>   drivers/media/platform/atmel/atmel-isc.h      |  13 +-
> > > >>>>>>>>>>   .../media/platform/atmel/atmel-sama5d2-isc.c  |  20 +
> > > >>>>>>>>>>   .../media/platform/atmel/atmel-sama7g5-isc.c  |  20 +
> > > >>>>>>>>>>   5 files changed, 236 insertions(+), 234 deletions(-)
> > > >>>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>> diff --git a/drivers/media/platform/atmel/atmel-isc-base.c b/drivers/media/platform/atmel/atmel-isc-base.c
> > > >>>>>>>>>> index ee1dda6707a0..fe2c0af58060 100644
> > > >>>>>>>>>> --- a/drivers/media/platform/atmel/atmel-isc-base.c
> > > >>>>>>>>>> +++ b/drivers/media/platform/atmel/atmel-isc-base.c
> > > >>>>>>>>>> @@ -36,11 +36,6 @@ static unsigned int debug;
> > > >>>>>>>>>>   module_param(debug, int, 0644);
> > > >>>>>>>>>>   MODULE_PARM_DESC(debug, "debug level (0-2)");
> > > >>>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>> -static unsigned int sensor_preferred = 1;
> > > >>>>>>>>>> -module_param(sensor_preferred, uint, 0644);
> > > >>>>>>>>>> -MODULE_PARM_DESC(sensor_preferred,
> > > >>>>>>>>>> -              "Sensor is preferred to output the specified format (1-on 0-off), default 1");
> > > >>>>>>>>>> -
> > > >>>>>>>>>>   #define ISC_IS_FORMAT_RAW(mbus_code) \
> > > >>>>>>>>>>        (((mbus_code) & 0xf000) == 0x3000)
> > > >>>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>> @@ -337,6 +332,10 @@ static int isc_start_streaming(struct vb2_queue *vq, unsigned int count)
> > > >>>>>>>>>>        unsigned long flags;
> > > >>>>>>>>>>        int ret;
> > > >>>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>>> +     ret = media_pipeline_start(&isc->video_dev.entity, &isc->mpipe);
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> The pipeline validation is done in start_streaming, but I don't think that
> > > >>>>>>>>> is the best place: if STREAMON is called before buffers are queued, then
> > > >>>>>>>>> an invalid pipeline isn't discovered until enough buffers are queued to
> > > >>>>>>>>> kick off start_streaming.
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> Drivers like vsp1, omap3isp and the samsung drivers all do this in streamon().
> > > >>>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>>> I think that is the correct time to do this.
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> Hello Hans,
> > > >>>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>>> Initially (v2, v3) I had this in streamon(). The problem that I faced at
> > > >>>>>>>> that time was that streamoff was never called, so I could not call
> > > >>>>>>>> media_pipeline_stop(). Then Jacopo told me to move it to start_streaming
> > > >>>>>>>> (see change log for v4) , and I did not face any more problems.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Yes indeed, seems I suggested to use media_pipeline_handler in a
> > > >>>>>> comment on your v3
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> "at s_stream time your top driver calls media_pipeline_start()"
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> sorry about that, I should have looked around a bit more carefully and
> > > >>>>>> notice most drivers do so at vb2 streamon
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> However I don't see media_pipeline_start being called at all in v3 of
> > > >>>>>> the patch
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>> It's a mess. Looking at some drivers I see that omap3isp calls media_pipeline_stop
> > > >>>>>>> in streamoff (so will have the same problem as you described if VIDIOC_STREAMOFF
> > > >>>>>>> isn't called), exynos4-is does the same, but it also checks the streaming state in
> > > >>>>>>> the release() fop callback, so that would fix this problem. And vimc does this
> > > >>>>>>> in stop_streaming.
> > > >>>>>>>
> > > >>>>>>> I'm in favor of fixing this in vb2, that framework knows exactly when this needs
> > > >>>>>>> to be called.
> > > >>>>>>
> > > >>>>>> Are you suggesting to have vb2 to call media_pipeline_start() or is it
> > > >>>>>> more complex than this ?
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> I think Hans meant adding a .validate() operation to vb2.
> > > >>>>>
> > > >>>>> vb2 is already quite complex, I don't think adding more features is a
> > > >>>>> good idea. I'd rather have vb2 focus on buffer management only
> > > >>>>> (.start_streaming() and .stop_streaming() shouldn't have been in there
> > > >>>>> in my opinion), and handle validation in the .streamon() handler. I'd
> > > >>>>> expect most drivers that deal with media pipelines to do more work in
> > > >>>>> .streamon() anyway.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> I disagree with that :-)
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> It's vb2 that keeps track of the streaming state and when what actions
> > > >>>> need to be taken. Drivers really shouldn't need to care about the ioctls
> > > >>>> themselves, and just implement the relevant vb2 callbacks. Relying on
> > > >>>> drivers to handle any of the streaming ioctls is asking for problems,
> > > >>>> as this shows: most drivers implement this wrong today.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> The vb2 framework knows when e.g. the pipeline needs to be started or
> > > >>>> stopped, and can do this at the best time, without drivers needing to
> > > >>>> keep track of when streamon/off/release is called. Keep that logic in
> > > >>>> vb2.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Pipeline management and buffer management are two different issues.
> > > >>> Don't forget about devices that have multiple video nodes, part of the
> > > >>> same pipeline (possibly a combination of output and capture nodes, or
> > > >>> all of the same type). Forcing drivers to go through vb2 operations to
> > > >>> handle the pipeline will be messy, will result in more bloat in vb2, and
> > > >>> make the result more bug-prone and harder to maintain.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> If pipeline management is too complex, let's simplify it, new helpers
> > > >>> can make sense, but not through vb2.
> > > >>
> > > >> But it is vb2 that knows when streaming starts and stops.
> > > >
> > > > That's right, but pipeline start (which includes validation and resource
> > > > reservation) needs to be performed synchronously with VIDIOC_STREAMON.
> > > > The streaming state managed by vb2 is not relevant,
> > > > media_pipeline_start() must not be delayed the same way
> > > > .start_streaming() is.
> > >
> > > It will be the first thing that vb2_streamon calls. This has nothing to do
> > > with start_streaming: that's called when sufficient number of buffers are
> > > queued up to be able to start the DMA. This proposed prepare_streaming op
> > > will be called when VIDIOC_STREAMON is called.
> >
> > Then it doesn't need vb2's knowledge of the stream state :-)
> >
> > > >> The driver just
> > > >> needs to be informed (e.g. prepare_streaming and unprepare_streaming ops).
> > > >>
> > > >> vb2 deals with buffer management and it keeps track of the streaming state
> > > >> and makes the streaming state transitions. That *is* an integral part of
> > > >> vb2. What is missing at the moment are callbacks done at streamon time and
> > > >> when the streaming stops (streamoff, or close() when is_streaming is true).
> > > >>
> > > >> If you want to implement stream validation in a driver, then there are a
> > > >> lot of things you need to do:
> > > >>
> > > >> - override streamon, make sure you call vb2_queue_is_busy(), validate the
> > > >>   pipeline, then call vb2_streamon, if that fails, remember to stop the
> > > >>   pipeline.
> > > >>
> > > >> - override streamoff, make sure you call vb2_queue_is_busy(), stop the
> > > >>   pipeline and call vb2_streamoff.
> > > >>
> > > >> - in the release() function when the fh is closed, you have to check
> > > >>   vb2_is_streaming(), check that you are the owner of the queue, and if true,
> > > >>   stop the pipeline.
> > > >
> > > > I'm not opposed to helper functions to implement that, they can bundle
> > > > vb2 calls and pipeline management.
> > > >
> > > >> By moving this to vb2 ops all you need to implement are the prepare and
> > > >> unprepare ops.
> > > >>
> > > >> Esp. the release() implementation is tricky. I'm pretty sure that
> > > >> drivers/media/platform/samsung/exynos4-is/fimc-lite.c is wrong, since it
> > > >> should only call media_pipeline_stop() for the owner of the queue. Instead
> > > >> it calls it for the last user of the queue.
> > > >>
> > > >> I see that fimc_lite_streamoff() is wrong too: you can safely call
> > > >> VIDIOC_STREAMOFF twice: the second streamoff just returns 0 without
> > > >> doing anything. Instead media_pipeline_stop is called without testing if
> > > >> the queue is streaming.
> > > >>
> > > >> And yes, this is in part because V4L2 has quite some history and certainly
> > > >> API choice were made in the past that we wouldn't make today. But vb2
> > > >> shields you from that, and behaves much more like a proper state machine.
> > > >>
> > > >> I know you prefer to give a lot more control to driver developers, but
> > > >> in my experience very few developers can do things like this right. And
> > > >> it is really hard as a reviewer to check if all the corner cases are handled
> > > >> correctly in a driver. If vb2 is used, then I know things are called at the
> > > >> right time, and that makes my life as reviewer so much easier.
> > > >
> > > > It's not just about giving more control to drivers, it's about
> > > > organizing the software layers in a way that keeps them maintainable,
> > > > with layered abstractions and not midlayers.
> > > >
> > > > We are extensively reworking the media pipeline management as part of
> > > > the stream series, and there will be more work on top of that that will
> > > > make even more fundamental changes. I would like to at least postpone
> > > > any work on vb2 until then, to be able to evaluate the impact.
> > >
> > > I'll make an RFC patch for vb2 so you have a better idea of what it does.
> >
> > As long as we don't merge it before I get the chance to send the media
> > pipeline management rework, I'm all for RFCs :-)
> >
> 
> To unblock Eugen is it fine if he moves media_pipeline_start() at
> streamon() time for now ? It will require overriding
> v4l2_ioctl.vidioc_streamon which might be a bit of additional work
> (but probably easier to replace once a proper solution lands)

Fine with me.

> Otherwise, should the series go in as it is now ?
> 
> > > >> There may still be a few drivers that really need to do this manually, and
> > > >> that's OK, but a driver like the atmel-isc doesn't need that at all.

-- 
Regards,

Laurent Pinchart

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