[PATCH 3/5] ARM: dts: imx6: rename the uart's compatible property
From: mark.rutland@arm.com (Mark Rutland)
Date: 2013-07-02 11:11:18
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linux-serial
On Tue, Jul 02, 2013 at 11:43:13AM +0100, Huang Shijie wrote:
? 2013?07?02? 17:56, Mark Rutland ??:quoted
On Tue, Jul 02, 2013 at 07:30:26AM +0100, Huang Shijie wrote:quoted
quoted
The imx6 uart can supports the DMA, imx uart driver has added a new compatible property for the imx6 uart. In order to enable the DMA for some uart port in imx6, we rename the uart's compatible property to "fsl,imx6-uart".Doesn't this change break using these dts with an older kernel? Youis it reasonable to use a new dts with an old kernel?
As long as everything required to boot is described in a fashion the old
kernel understands, I see no reason it shouldn't be. I certainly see no
reason to break compatibility with an old kernel by *removing* a
compatible string ("fsl,imx21-uart") that should not break newer
kernels if they choose to use the more-specific compatible string.
quoted
remove the "fsl,imx21-uart" string older kernels understand. Given you already had "fsl,imx6q-uart" and "fsl,imx6sl-uart" strings, would it not have made more sense to just add these to the driver?I think it's not a good idea.
Are there instances of "fsl-imx6q-uart" or "fsl,imx6sl-uart" that aren't compatible with this new "fsl,imx6-uart" (i.e. are any not DMA capable)? If not, then using the existing binding gives the same behaviour without confusing everyone by adding a slightly different compatible string, without the churn caused by modifying the dts, and the cost to Linux is a single line. Boards with a pre-built dtb will get the new functionality by just changing the Linux image. I don't see what's wrong with this. Thanks, Mark.
Shawn, what's your opinion about this? thanks Huang Shijie