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en:developers:documentation:submittingpatches [2020/10/08 09:43]
Kalle Valo [New driver] Clarify that these are requirements, add DT, separate preferred licenses
en:developers:documentation:submittingpatches [2024/02/01 20:12] (current)
Jeff Johnson [Who to address] add ath12k
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 ===== Prior to sending patches ===== ===== Prior to sending patches =====
  
-Please **DO NOT** PGP sign patches sent to //​linux-wireless//​. The reason is that signing patches will encapsulate them into MIME and thereby mangle the patch. Also, please note that we prefer patches inline rather than attachments. ​+Please **DO NOT** PGP sign patches sent to public lists. The reason is that signing patches will encapsulate them into MIME and thereby mangle the patch. Also, please note that we prefer patches inline rather than attachments. And no HTML mail, our lists reject those automatically. 
 + 
 +And carefully read [[http://​www.infradead.org/​~dwmw2/​email.html|our email etiquette]],​ that saves everyone'​s time.
  
  
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 CC: linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org,​ Other Developers</​code>​ CC: linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org,​ Other Developers</​code>​
  
-For wireless-drivers patches (except mac80211_hwsim) send patches as:+For wireless drivers patches (except mac80211_hwsim) send patches as:
  
 <​code>​To:​ linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org <​code>​To:​ linux-wireless@vger.kernel.org
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 Where [[en/​developers/​maintainers|Maintainers]] contains the list of maintainers and mailing lists for the piece of code you are patching. //Other Developers//​ in this case can be a list of developers (or mailing lists) who you think may like to review this patch or who changed the code you are working on recently. ​ Where [[en/​developers/​maintainers|Maintainers]] contains the list of maintainers and mailing lists for the piece of code you are patching. //Other Developers//​ in this case can be a list of developers (or mailing lists) who you think may like to review this patch or who changed the code you are working on recently. ​
  
-Do note that drivers might have special requirements,​ the best is to check them from the corresponding wiki page. Here's a list for few of them:+Do note that drivers might have special requirements,​ the best is to check them from the corresponding wiki page. Here's a list for few of them:
  
   * [[en/​users/​drivers/​ath10k/​submittingpatches|ath10k]]   * [[en/​users/​drivers/​ath10k/​submittingpatches|ath10k]]
   * [[en/​users/​drivers/​ath11k/​submittingpatches|ath11k]]   * [[en/​users/​drivers/​ath11k/​submittingpatches|ath11k]]
 +  * [[en/​users/​drivers/​ath11k/​submittingpatches|ath12k]]
 ===== Checking state of patches from patchwork ===== ===== Checking state of patches from patchwork =====
  
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 ===== Subject ===== ===== Subject =====
  
-If what you are sending is a patch you can use a subject as follows: ​+If what you are sending is a patch you should ​use a subject as follows: ​ 
  
 +<​code>​[PATCH] wifi: subsystem: fix foo and optimize bar</​code>​
  
-<​code>​[PATCH] subsystemfix foo and optimize bar</​code>​+Starting from 2022 we prefix all wireless patch titles with "wifi".
  
 In case of wireless patches the subsystem can for example be ''​mac80211'',​ ''​cfg80211''​ or the name of the driver, for example ''​ath9k''​. There'​s an easy way to check with git what prefix you should use: In case of wireless patches the subsystem can for example be ''​mac80211'',​ ''​cfg80211''​ or the name of the driver, for example ''​ath9k''​. There'​s an easy way to check with git what prefix you should use:
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 If your patch is just a proposal you can mark the patch as RFC in the subject: ​ If your patch is just a proposal you can mark the patch as RFC in the subject: ​
  
-<​code>​[RFC] subsystem: a new way to do foo</​code>​+<​code>​[RFC] ​wifi: subsystem: ​add a new way to do foo</​code>​
  
 If you need to make changes to the patch add a version number inside the brackets: If you need to make changes to the patch add a version number inside the brackets:
  
-<​code>​[PATCH v2] subsystem: fix foo and optimize bar +<​code>​[PATCH v2] wifi: subsystem: fix foo and optimize bar 
-[PATCH v3] subsystem: fix foo and optimize bar +[PATCH v3] wifi: subsystem: fix foo and optimize bar 
-[PATCH v4] subsystem: fix foo and optimize bar</​code>​+[PATCH v4] wifi: subsystem: fix foo and optimize bar</​code>​
  
 **Always** increase the version number, no matter how small the change is. The maintainers focus on the latest version and ignore the older versions. Make sure that the maintainers don't need to guess what version he should take, that just creates problems. **Always** increase the version number, no matter how small the change is. The maintainers focus on the latest version and ignore the older versions. Make sure that the maintainers don't need to guess what version he should take, that just creates problems.
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 If a patch in a bigger patchset changes resubmit the whole patchset, even the patches which have not changes. The maintainers look at patchsets as a complete unit, usually they do not want to take patches individually from a patchset. If a patch in a bigger patchset changes resubmit the whole patchset, even the patches which have not changes. The maintainers look at patchsets as a complete unit, usually they do not want to take patches individually from a patchset.
 +
 +Subject lines, like commit messages (see below) should be written in imperative voice ("fix foo and optimize bar"), not in any other way such as past tense ("​fixed foo and optimized bar").
 +
 +===== Commit Messages =====
 +
 +Please write commit messages, like mentioned for the subject above, in imperative voice.
 +
 +Commit messages should describe
 +  * why a change was made,
 +  * how it achieves its stated goal, and,
 +  * if applicable, other considerations such as
 +    * alternatives that were considered,
 +    * implications on other code,
 +    * possible security implications,​
 +    * etc.
 +
 +If you find yourself listing out a number of changes in the commit message as a bulleted list or similar, consider splitting up the patch into discrete changes that each do one thing. Similarly, if one of the additional considerations is refactoring,​ try to shift that into a separate patch.
  
 ===== Tree labels ===== ===== Tree labels =====
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 If you want to target your patch to a specific release (for example that the patch should go -rc release not -next) you can inform the maintainer by adding the release number inside the PATCH brackets: If you want to target your patch to a specific release (for example that the patch should go -rc release not -next) you can inform the maintainer by adding the release number inside the PATCH brackets:
    
-<​code>​[PATCH 4.20] subsystem: fix foo</​code>​+<​code>​[PATCH 4.20] wifi: subsystem: fix foo</​code>​
  
 If you want to make it clear to the maintainer that the patch should NOT go to -rc release but to -next instead you can add "​-next"​ to PATCH brackets: If you want to make it clear to the maintainer that the patch should NOT go to -rc release but to -next instead you can add "​-next"​ to PATCH brackets:
  
-<​code>​[PATCH -next] subsystem: fix foo</​code>​+<​code>​[PATCH -next] ​wifi: subsystem: fix foo</​code>​
  
 Alternatively you can specify the exact tree you are targetting by adding the name of the git tree inside PATCH brackets: Alternatively you can specify the exact tree you are targetting by adding the name of the git tree inside PATCH brackets:
  
-<​code>​[PATCH ​mac80211] mac80211: fix foo +<​code>​[PATCH ​wirelesswifi: mac80211: fix foo 
-[PATCH ​mac80211-next] mac80211: implement very-cool-feature +[PATCH ​wireless-next] ​wifi: mac80211: implement very-cool-feature 
-[PATCH wireless-drivers] ath10k: fix foo +[PATCH wireless] ​wifi: ath10k: fix foo 
-[PATCH wireless-drivers-next] ath10k: implement awesome-feature+[PATCH wireless-next] ​wifi: ath10k: implement awesome-feature
 </​code>​ </​code>​
  
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-<​code>​[PATCH 0/4] driver_name:​ introduce foo and bar +<​code>​[PATCH 0/4] wifi: driver_name:​ introduce foo and bar 
-[PATCH 1/4] driver_name:​ introduce get_foo_bars() +[PATCH 1/4] wifi: driver_name:​ introduce get_foo_bars() 
-[PATCH 2/4] driver_name:​ fix locking on bar_by_foo() +[PATCH 2/4] wifi: driver_name:​ fix locking on bar_by_foo() 
-[PATCH 3/4] driver_name:​ use foo when barring +[PATCH 3/4] wifi: driver_name:​ use foo when barring 
-[PATCH 4/4] driver_name:​ optimize bar at init time</​code>​ +[PATCH 4/4] wifi: driver_name:​ optimize bar at init time</​code>​ 
-On the e-mail with subject, "​[PATCH 0/4] driver_name:​ introduce foo and bar", you would give a brief overview of all the changes. No patch should be included in that e-mail, and as that e-mail will not end up in the change logs it should not contain anything that should be archived, only a rough overview over the purpose of the patch set, no in-depth description which should be in the changelog for each patch. ​+On the e-mail with subject, "​[PATCH 0/4] wifi: driver_name:​ introduce foo and bar", you would give a brief overview of all the changes. No patch should be included in that e-mail, and as that e-mail will not end up in the change logs it should not contain anything that should be archived, only a rough overview over the purpose of the patch set, no in-depth description which should be in the changelog for each patch. ​
  
  
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   * have firmware images submitted for [[https://​git.kernel.org/​pub/​scm/​linux/​kernel/​git/​firmware/​linux-firmware.git/​|linux-firmware]] with an acceptable license allowing redistribution   * have firmware images submitted for [[https://​git.kernel.org/​pub/​scm/​linux/​kernel/​git/​firmware/​linux-firmware.git/​|linux-firmware]] with an acceptable license allowing redistribution
   * document Device Tree usage in [[https://​www.kernel.org/​doc/​html/​latest/​devicetree/​bindings/​submitting-patches.html|devicetree bindings]] and review them with DT maintainers   * document Device Tree usage in [[https://​www.kernel.org/​doc/​html/​latest/​devicetree/​bindings/​submitting-patches.html|devicetree bindings]] and review them with DT maintainers
 +  * in the commit log/cover letter provide an overview of the driver
 +    * what hardware the driver supports
 +    * what features are supported (client, AP, mesh modes etc)
   * for review submit the driver as one file per patch, to make it easier for the reviewers   * for review submit the driver as one file per patch, to make it easier for the reviewers
     * example: https://​lore.kernel.org/​linux-wireless/​20200623110000.31559-1-ajay.kathat@microchip.com/​     * example: https://​lore.kernel.org/​linux-wireless/​20200623110000.31559-1-ajay.kathat@microchip.com/​
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     * for staging drivers the final patch will be just a small patch moving the driver, example: https://​git.kernel.org/​linus/​5625f965d764     * for staging drivers the final patch will be just a small patch moving the driver, example: https://​git.kernel.org/​linus/​5625f965d764
  
-There'​s also a list [[https://​git.kernel.org/​pub/​scm/​linux/​kernel/​git/​torvalds/​linux.git/​tree/​LICENSES/​preferred|preferred licenses]] available.+There'​s also a list of [[https://​git.kernel.org/​pub/​scm/​linux/​kernel/​git/​torvalds/​linux.git/​tree/​LICENSES/​preferred|preferred licenses]] available.
  
 +Some guidelines to speed up new driver review:
 +
 +  * keep the driver small and simple, more features can be added after the driver is accepted upstream
 +  * use clean understandable code
 +  * use generic kernel frameworks instead of reinventing the wheel
 +  * use generic user space interfaces
 +    * no driver specific user interfaces or hacks
 +    * no .ini style driver configuration files
 +  * avoid using debugfs or nl80211 vendor interfaces
 ===== Examples of a patches ===== ===== Examples of a patches =====
  
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 To: John Linville To: John Linville
 Cc: linux-wireless,​ Bcm43xx-dev,​ Larry Finger Cc: linux-wireless,​ Bcm43xx-dev,​ Larry Finger
-Subject: [PATCH] b43: Remove the "radio hw enabled"​ message on startup.+Subject: [PATCH] ​wifi: b43: Remove the "radio hw enabled"​ message on startup.
  
 This message is useless. Only report state changes. This message is useless. Only report state changes.
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 To: John Linville To: John Linville
 Cc: linux-wireless,​ Michael Wu, Johannes Berg, Daniel Drake, Larry Finger Cc: linux-wireless,​ Michael Wu, Johannes Berg, Daniel Drake, Larry Finger
-Subject: [PATCH 3/5] Wireless: add IEEE-802.11 regualtory domain module+Subject: [PATCH 3/5] wifi: add IEEE-802.11 regualtory domain module
  
 This adds the regulatory domain module. It provides a way to This adds the regulatory domain module. It provides a way to
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 If you send a new version of the patch or patchset you should always add a version number. The first version does not need to be shown but starting from second version the version number must be available: If you send a new version of the patch or patchset you should always add a version number. The first version does not need to be shown but starting from second version the version number must be available:
  
-  [PATCH] ath10k: fix DMA allocation +  [PATCH] ​wifi: ath10k: fix DMA allocation 
-  [PATCH v2] ath10k: fix DMA allocation +  [PATCH v2] wifi: ath10k: fix DMA allocation 
-  [PATCH v3] ath10k: fix DMA allocation+  [PATCH v3] wifi: ath10k: fix DMA allocation
   ...   ...
-  [PATCH v11] ath10k: fix DMA allocation+  [PATCH v11] wifi: ath10k: fix DMA allocation
  
 You can add the version with switch ''​--subject-prefix'':​ You can add the version with switch ''​--subject-prefix'':​
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   Fixes: c742e623e941 ("​mwifiex:​ sdio card reset enhancement"​)   Fixes: c742e623e941 ("​mwifiex:​ sdio card reset enhancement"​)
  
 +Here's how one can configure git to provide the fixes tag in correct format:
 +
 +  $ git config --global --add alias.fixes 'show -q --format=fixes'​
 +  $ git config --global --add pretty.fixes '​Fixes:​ %h ("​%s"​)'​
 +  $ git config --global --add core.abbrev 12
 +  $ git fixes ba9177fcef21
 +  Fixes: ba9177fcef21 ("​ath11k:​ Add basic WoW functionalities"​)
 ==== Commit reference is wrong ==== ==== Commit reference is wrong ====
  
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 ==== Commit title is wrong ==== ==== Commit title is wrong ====
  
-The correc tformat ​for the commit title is name of driver, followed by a colon, followed by a space and then followed by the actual title. ​You can use ''​git log''​ to check older commits and see what prefix was used:+The correct format ​for the commit title is name of driver, followed by a colon, followed by a space and then followed by the actual title. ​Also the title should be informative and unique, so something like "fix a bug" is not a good title. 
 + 
 +In 2022 we started using "wifi: " in front of all wireless patches. 
 + 
 +For examples uou can use ''​git log''​ to check older commits and see what prefix was used:
  
 <​code>​ <​code>​
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 ==== Use RFC or RFT for patches not ready ==== ==== Use RFC or RFT for patches not ready ====
  
-If the patches are not yet ready to be applied by the maintainer, mark them as RFC (Request For Comments) or RFT (Request For Test). This way the maintainer can easily see that the patch should not be applied yet. This saves a lot of maintainer'​s time.+If the patches are not yet ready to be applied by the maintainer, mark them as RFC (Request For Comments) or RFT (Request For Test) in the subject. This way the maintainer can easily see that the patch should not be applied yet and saves maintainer'​s time. 
 + 
 +Examples: 
 + 
 +  [PATCH RFC] wifi: ath11k: enable power save mode always 
 +  [PATCH RFT] wifi: ath10k: sdio: always use DMA transfers 
  
 ==== Use Co-developed-by when multiple authors ​ ==== ==== Use Co-developed-by when multiple authors ​ ====
en/developers/documentation/submittingpatches.1602150233.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/10/08 09:43 by Kalle Valo