linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] virtio: uapi: avoid usage of libc types

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Message-ID: <20251222114303-6d63eff5-792c-4727-8bb1-61a024884616@linutronix.de>
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2025 11:43:52 +0100
From: Thomas Weißschuh <thomas.weissschuh@...utronix.de>
To: "Michael S. Tsirkin" <mst@...hat.com>
Cc: Jason Wang <jasowang@...hat.com>, 
	Xuan Zhuo <xuanzhuo@...ux.alibaba.com>, Eugenio Pérez <eperezma@...hat.com>, 
	virtualization@...ts.linux.dev, linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, Arnd Bergmann <arnd@...db.de>
Subject: Re: [PATCH] virtio: uapi: avoid usage of libc types

On Mon, Dec 22, 2025 at 05:28:30AM -0500, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> On Mon, Dec 22, 2025 at 11:22:16AM +0100, Thomas Weißschuh wrote:
> > On Mon, Dec 22, 2025 at 03:39:12AM -0500, Michael S. Tsirkin wrote:
> > > On Mon, Dec 22, 2025 at 09:00:33AM +0100, Thomas Weißschuh wrote:
> > > > Using libc types and headers from the UAPI headers is problematic as it
> > > > introduces a dependency on a full C toolchain.
> > > > 
> > > > On Linux 'unsigned long' works as a replacement for 'uintptr_t' and does
> > > > not depend on libc.
> > > > 
> > > > Signed-off-by: Thomas Weißschuh <thomas.weissschuh@...utronix.de>
> > > 
> > > 
> > > are you fixing other uses of uintptr_t ?
> > 
> > I am focussing on UAPI headers which include libc headers.
> > virtio_ring.h seems to be the only such header which uses uintptr_t.
> > There are a few other UAPI headers which reference uintptr_t, but only
> > in comments or macros.
> > 
> > uintptr_t in regular kernel code is out of scope for me.
> > While it is iffy, it doesn't actually hurt.
> > 
> > 
> > Thomas
> 
> And other uses of stdint.h?

If they are in UAPI headers I will look at them.
I also have a series prepared to prevent new users from creeping in.