On Sun, Feb 19, 2012 at 11:27:42PM -0700, Stephen Warren wrote:

Update gpio.txt based on recent discussions regarding interaction with the
pinctrl subsystem.

Previously, gpio_request() was described as explicitly not performing any
required mux setup operations etc.

Now, gpio_request() is explicitly as explicitly performing any required mux
setup operations where possible. In the case it isn't, platform code is
required to have set up any required muxing or other configuration prior to
gpio_request() being called, in order to maintain the same semantics.

So what if you need to have the pin as a GPIO, manipulate it as a GPIO,
and then hand it off to a special function, and then take it back as
a GPIO before you shut the special function down ?