Thread (13 messages) 13 messages, 6 authors, 2025-02-04

Re: [PATCH net] docs: netdev: Document guidance on inline functions

From: Simon Horman <horms@kernel.org>
Date: 2025-02-04 11:55:26
Also in: linux-doc, workflows

On Mon, Feb 03, 2025 at 08:53:12PM +0100, Mauro Carvalho Chehab wrote:
Em Mon, 3 Feb 2025 20:50:39 +0100
Mauro Carvalho Chehab [off-list ref] escreveu:
quoted
Em Mon, 03 Feb 2025 08:00:56 -0700
Jonathan Corbet [off-list ref] escreveu:
quoted
Simon Horman [off-list ref] writes:
quoted
Document preference for non inline functions in .c files.
This has been the preference for as long as I can recall
and I was recently surprised to discover that it is undocumented.

Reported-by: Alexandre Ferrieux <redacted>
Closes: https://lore.kernel.org/all/9662e6fe-cc91-4258-aba1-ab5b016a041a@orange.com/ (local)
Signed-off-by: Simon Horman <horms@kernel.org>
---
 Documentation/process/maintainer-netdev.rst | 11 +++++++++++
 1 file changed, 11 insertions(+)
diff --git a/Documentation/process/maintainer-netdev.rst b/Documentation/process/maintainer-netdev.rst
index e497729525d5..1fbb8178b8cd 100644
--- a/Documentation/process/maintainer-netdev.rst
+++ b/Documentation/process/maintainer-netdev.rst
@@ -408,6 +408,17 @@ at a greater cost than the value of such clean-ups.
 
 Conversely, spelling and grammar fixes are not discouraged.
 
+Inline functions
+----------------
+
+The use of static inline functions in .c file is strongly discouraged
+unless there is a demonstrable reason for them, usually performance
+related. Rather, it is preferred to omit the inline keyword and allow the
+compiler to inline them as it sees fit.
You should probably point to chapter (12) of Documentation/process/coding-style.rst
where it mentions that inline for function prototypes and as a way to
replace macros are OK.
Heh, I hit enter too quickly...

I mean:
	"inline for function prototypes and as a way to replace macros on
	 header files (*.h) are OK."
Likewise, I responded to your previous message too quickly.

Yes, I agree something like that would be good.
quoted
quoted
quoted
+
+This is a stricter requirement than that of the general Linux Kernel
+:ref:`Coding Style<codingstyle>`  
I have no objection to this change, but I do wonder if it does indeed
belong in the central coding-style document.  I don't think anybody
encourages use of "inline" these days...?
Indeed IMO this belongs to the coding style. I would place it close
to chapter (12) at Documentation/process/coding-style.rst.

Regards,

Thanks,
Mauro


Thanks,
Mauro
Keyboard shortcuts
hback out one level
jnext message in thread
kprevious message in thread
ldrill in
Escclose help / fold thread tree
?toggle this help