~ [ source navigation ] ~ [ diff markup ] ~ [ identifier search ] ~

TOMOYO Linux Cross Reference
Linux/Documentation/dev-tools/checkuapi.rst

Version: ~ [ linux-6.12-rc7 ] ~ [ linux-6.11.7 ] ~ [ linux-6.10.14 ] ~ [ linux-6.9.12 ] ~ [ linux-6.8.12 ] ~ [ linux-6.7.12 ] ~ [ linux-6.6.60 ] ~ [ linux-6.5.13 ] ~ [ linux-6.4.16 ] ~ [ linux-6.3.13 ] ~ [ linux-6.2.16 ] ~ [ linux-6.1.116 ] ~ [ linux-6.0.19 ] ~ [ linux-5.19.17 ] ~ [ linux-5.18.19 ] ~ [ linux-5.17.15 ] ~ [ linux-5.16.20 ] ~ [ linux-5.15.171 ] ~ [ linux-5.14.21 ] ~ [ linux-5.13.19 ] ~ [ linux-5.12.19 ] ~ [ linux-5.11.22 ] ~ [ linux-5.10.229 ] ~ [ linux-5.9.16 ] ~ [ linux-5.8.18 ] ~ [ linux-5.7.19 ] ~ [ linux-5.6.19 ] ~ [ linux-5.5.19 ] ~ [ linux-5.4.285 ] ~ [ linux-5.3.18 ] ~ [ linux-5.2.21 ] ~ [ linux-5.1.21 ] ~ [ linux-5.0.21 ] ~ [ linux-4.20.17 ] ~ [ linux-4.19.323 ] ~ [ linux-4.18.20 ] ~ [ linux-4.17.19 ] ~ [ linux-4.16.18 ] ~ [ linux-4.15.18 ] ~ [ linux-4.14.336 ] ~ [ linux-4.13.16 ] ~ [ linux-4.12.14 ] ~ [ linux-4.11.12 ] ~ [ linux-4.10.17 ] ~ [ linux-4.9.337 ] ~ [ linux-4.4.302 ] ~ [ linux-3.10.108 ] ~ [ linux-2.6.32.71 ] ~ [ linux-2.6.0 ] ~ [ linux-2.4.37.11 ] ~ [ unix-v6-master ] ~ [ ccs-tools-1.8.12 ] ~ [ policy-sample ] ~
Architecture: ~ [ i386 ] ~ [ alpha ] ~ [ m68k ] ~ [ mips ] ~ [ ppc ] ~ [ sparc ] ~ [ sparc64 ] ~

Diff markup

Differences between /Documentation/dev-tools/checkuapi.rst (Architecture sparc64) and /Documentation/dev-tools/checkuapi.rst (Architecture m68k)


  1 .. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-only            1 .. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-only
  2                                                     2 
  3 ============                                        3 ============
  4 UAPI Checker                                        4 UAPI Checker
  5 ============                                        5 ============
  6                                                     6 
  7 The UAPI checker (``scripts/check-uapi.sh``) i      7 The UAPI checker (``scripts/check-uapi.sh``) is a shell script which
  8 checks UAPI header files for userspace backwar      8 checks UAPI header files for userspace backwards-compatibility across
  9 the git tree.                                       9 the git tree.
 10                                                    10 
 11 Options                                            11 Options
 12 =======                                            12 =======
 13                                                    13 
 14 This section will describe the options with wh     14 This section will describe the options with which ``check-uapi.sh``
 15 can be run.                                        15 can be run.
 16                                                    16 
 17 Usage::                                            17 Usage::
 18                                                    18 
 19     check-uapi.sh [-b BASE_REF] [-p PAST_REF]      19     check-uapi.sh [-b BASE_REF] [-p PAST_REF] [-j N] [-l ERROR_LOG] [-i] [-q] [-v]
 20                                                    20 
 21 Available options::                                21 Available options::
 22                                                    22 
 23     -b BASE_REF    Base git reference to use f     23     -b BASE_REF    Base git reference to use for comparison. If unspecified or empty,
 24                    will use any dirty changes      24                    will use any dirty changes in tree to UAPI files. If there are no
 25                    dirty changes, HEAD will be     25                    dirty changes, HEAD will be used.
 26     -p PAST_REF    Compare BASE_REF to PAST_RE     26     -p PAST_REF    Compare BASE_REF to PAST_REF (e.g. -p v6.1). If unspecified or empty,
 27                    will use BASE_REF^1. Must b     27                    will use BASE_REF^1. Must be an ancestor of BASE_REF. Only headers
 28                    that exist on PAST_REF will     28                    that exist on PAST_REF will be checked for compatibility.
 29     -j JOBS        Number of checks to run in      29     -j JOBS        Number of checks to run in parallel (default: number of CPU cores).
 30     -l ERROR_LOG   Write error log to file (de     30     -l ERROR_LOG   Write error log to file (default: no error log is generated).
 31     -i             Ignore ambiguous changes th     31     -i             Ignore ambiguous changes that may or may not break UAPI compatibility.
 32     -q             Quiet operation.                32     -q             Quiet operation.
 33     -v             Verbose operation (print mo     33     -v             Verbose operation (print more information about each header being checked).
 34                                                    34 
 35 Environmental args::                               35 Environmental args::
 36                                                    36 
 37     ABIDIFF  Custom path to abidiff binary         37     ABIDIFF  Custom path to abidiff binary
 38     CC       C compiler (default is "gcc")         38     CC       C compiler (default is "gcc")
 39     ARCH     Target architecture of C compiler     39     ARCH     Target architecture of C compiler (default is host arch)
 40                                                    40 
 41 Exit codes::                                       41 Exit codes::
 42                                                    42 
 43     0) Success                                     43     0) Success
 44     1) ABI difference detected                     44     1) ABI difference detected
 45     2) Prerequisite not met                        45     2) Prerequisite not met
 46                                                    46 
 47 Examples                                           47 Examples
 48 ========                                           48 ========
 49                                                    49 
 50 Basic Usage                                        50 Basic Usage
 51 -----------                                        51 -----------
 52                                                    52 
 53 First, let's try making a change to a UAPI hea     53 First, let's try making a change to a UAPI header file that obviously
 54 won't break userspace::                            54 won't break userspace::
 55                                                    55 
 56     cat << 'EOF' | patch -l -p1                    56     cat << 'EOF' | patch -l -p1
 57     --- a/include/uapi/linux/acct.h                57     --- a/include/uapi/linux/acct.h
 58     +++ b/include/uapi/linux/acct.h                58     +++ b/include/uapi/linux/acct.h
 59     @@ -21,7 +21,9 @@                              59     @@ -21,7 +21,9 @@
 60      #include <asm/param.h>                        60      #include <asm/param.h>
 61      #include <asm/byteorder.h>                    61      #include <asm/byteorder.h>
 62                                                    62 
 63     -/*                                            63     -/*
 64     +#define FOO                                   64     +#define FOO
 65     +                                              65     +
 66     +/*                                            66     +/*
 67       *  comp_t is a 16-bit "floating" point n     67       *  comp_t is a 16-bit "floating" point number with a 3-bit base 8
 68       *  exponent and a 13-bit fraction.           68       *  exponent and a 13-bit fraction.
 69       *  comp2_t is 24-bit with 5-bit base 2 e     69       *  comp2_t is 24-bit with 5-bit base 2 exponent and 20 bit fraction
 70     diff --git a/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h b/in     70     diff --git a/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h b/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h
 71     EOF                                            71     EOF
 72                                                    72 
 73 Now, let's use the script to validate::            73 Now, let's use the script to validate::
 74                                                    74 
 75     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh                      75     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh
 76     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from d     76     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from dirty tree... OK
 77     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from H     77     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from HEAD... OK
 78     Checking changes to UAPI headers between H     78     Checking changes to UAPI headers between HEAD and dirty tree...
 79     All 912 UAPI headers compatible with x86 a     79     All 912 UAPI headers compatible with x86 appear to be backwards compatible
 80                                                    80 
 81 Let's add another change that *might* break us     81 Let's add another change that *might* break userspace::
 82                                                    82 
 83     cat << 'EOF' | patch -l -p1                    83     cat << 'EOF' | patch -l -p1
 84     --- a/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h                 84     --- a/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h
 85     +++ b/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h                 85     +++ b/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h
 86     @@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ struct bpf_insn {            86     @@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ struct bpf_insn {
 87             __u8    dst_reg:4;      /* dest re     87             __u8    dst_reg:4;      /* dest register */
 88             __u8    src_reg:4;      /* source      88             __u8    src_reg:4;      /* source register */
 89             __s16   off;            /* signed      89             __s16   off;            /* signed offset */
 90     -       __s32   imm;            /* signed      90     -       __s32   imm;            /* signed immediate constant */
 91     +       __u32   imm;            /* unsigne     91     +       __u32   imm;            /* unsigned immediate constant */
 92      };                                            92      };
 93                                                    93 
 94      /* Key of an a BPF_MAP_TYPE_LPM_TRIE entr     94      /* Key of an a BPF_MAP_TYPE_LPM_TRIE entry */
 95     EOF                                            95     EOF
 96                                                    96 
 97 The script will catch this::                       97 The script will catch this::
 98                                                    98 
 99     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh                      99     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh
100     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from d    100     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from dirty tree... OK
101     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from H    101     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from HEAD... OK
102     Checking changes to UAPI headers between H    102     Checking changes to UAPI headers between HEAD and dirty tree...
103     ==== ABI differences detected in include/l    103     ==== ABI differences detected in include/linux/bpf.h from HEAD -> dirty tree ====
104         [C] 'struct bpf_insn' changed:            104         [C] 'struct bpf_insn' changed:
105           type size hasn't changed                105           type size hasn't changed
106           1 data member change:                   106           1 data member change:
107             type of '__s32 imm' changed:          107             type of '__s32 imm' changed:
108               typedef name changed from __s32     108               typedef name changed from __s32 to __u32 at int-ll64.h:27:1
109               underlying type 'int' changed:      109               underlying type 'int' changed:
110                 type name changed from 'int' t    110                 type name changed from 'int' to 'unsigned int'
111                 type size hasn't changed          111                 type size hasn't changed
112     ==========================================    112     ==================================================================================
113                                                   113 
114     error - 1/912 UAPI headers compatible with    114     error - 1/912 UAPI headers compatible with x86 appear _not_ to be backwards compatible
115                                                   115 
116 In this case, the script is reporting the type    116 In this case, the script is reporting the type change because it could
117 break a userspace program that passes in a neg    117 break a userspace program that passes in a negative number. Now, let's
118 say you know that no userspace program could p    118 say you know that no userspace program could possibly be using a negative
119 value in ``imm``, so changing to an unsigned t    119 value in ``imm``, so changing to an unsigned type there shouldn't hurt
120 anything. You can pass the ``-i`` flag to the     120 anything. You can pass the ``-i`` flag to the script to ignore changes
121 in which the userspace backwards compatibility    121 in which the userspace backwards compatibility is ambiguous::
122                                                   122 
123     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh -i                  123     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh -i
124     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from d    124     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from dirty tree... OK
125     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from H    125     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from HEAD... OK
126     Checking changes to UAPI headers between H    126     Checking changes to UAPI headers between HEAD and dirty tree...
127     All 912 UAPI headers compatible with x86 a    127     All 912 UAPI headers compatible with x86 appear to be backwards compatible
128                                                   128 
129 Now, let's make a similar change that *will* b    129 Now, let's make a similar change that *will* break userspace::
130                                                   130 
131     cat << 'EOF' | patch -l -p1                   131     cat << 'EOF' | patch -l -p1
132     --- a/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h                132     --- a/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h
133     +++ b/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h                133     +++ b/include/uapi/linux/bpf.h
134     @@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ enum {                      134     @@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ enum {
135                                                   135 
136      struct bpf_insn {                            136      struct bpf_insn {
137             __u8    code;           /* opcode     137             __u8    code;           /* opcode */
138     -       __u8    dst_reg:4;      /* dest re    138     -       __u8    dst_reg:4;      /* dest register */
139             __u8    src_reg:4;      /* source     139             __u8    src_reg:4;      /* source register */
140     +       __u8    dst_reg:4;      /* dest re    140     +       __u8    dst_reg:4;      /* dest register */
141             __s16   off;            /* signed     141             __s16   off;            /* signed offset */
142             __s32   imm;            /* signed     142             __s32   imm;            /* signed immediate constant */
143      };                                           143      };
144     EOF                                           144     EOF
145                                                   145 
146 Since we're re-ordering an existing struct mem    146 Since we're re-ordering an existing struct member, there's no ambiguity,
147 and the script will report the breakage even i    147 and the script will report the breakage even if you pass ``-i``::
148                                                   148 
149     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh -i                  149     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh -i
150     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from d    150     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from dirty tree... OK
151     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from H    151     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from HEAD... OK
152     Checking changes to UAPI headers between H    152     Checking changes to UAPI headers between HEAD and dirty tree...
153     ==== ABI differences detected in include/l    153     ==== ABI differences detected in include/linux/bpf.h from HEAD -> dirty tree ====
154         [C] 'struct bpf_insn' changed:            154         [C] 'struct bpf_insn' changed:
155           type size hasn't changed                155           type size hasn't changed
156           2 data member changes:                  156           2 data member changes:
157             '__u8 dst_reg' offset changed from    157             '__u8 dst_reg' offset changed from 8 to 12 (in bits) (by +4 bits)
158             '__u8 src_reg' offset changed from    158             '__u8 src_reg' offset changed from 12 to 8 (in bits) (by -4 bits)
159     ==========================================    159     ==================================================================================
160                                                   160 
161     error - 1/912 UAPI headers compatible with    161     error - 1/912 UAPI headers compatible with x86 appear _not_ to be backwards compatible
162                                                   162 
163 Let's commit the breaking change, then commit     163 Let's commit the breaking change, then commit the innocuous change::
164                                                   164 
165     % git commit -m 'Breaking UAPI change' inc    165     % git commit -m 'Breaking UAPI change' include/uapi/linux/bpf.h
166     [detached HEAD f758e574663a] Breaking UAPI    166     [detached HEAD f758e574663a] Breaking UAPI change
167      1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletio    167      1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
168     % git commit -m 'Innocuous UAPI change' in    168     % git commit -m 'Innocuous UAPI change' include/uapi/linux/acct.h
169     [detached HEAD 2e87df769081] Innocuous UAP    169     [detached HEAD 2e87df769081] Innocuous UAPI change
170      1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 1 deleti    170      1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
171                                                   171 
172 Now, let's run the script again with no argume    172 Now, let's run the script again with no arguments::
173                                                   173 
174     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh                     174     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh
175     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from H    175     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from HEAD... OK
176     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from H    176     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from HEAD^1... OK
177     Checking changes to UAPI headers between H    177     Checking changes to UAPI headers between HEAD^1 and HEAD...
178     All 912 UAPI headers compatible with x86 a    178     All 912 UAPI headers compatible with x86 appear to be backwards compatible
179                                                   179 
180 It doesn't catch any breaking change because,     180 It doesn't catch any breaking change because, by default, it only
181 compares ``HEAD`` to ``HEAD^1``. The breaking     181 compares ``HEAD`` to ``HEAD^1``. The breaking change was committed on
182 ``HEAD~2``. If we wanted the search scope to g    182 ``HEAD~2``. If we wanted the search scope to go back further, we'd have to
183 use the ``-p`` option to pass a different past    183 use the ``-p`` option to pass a different past reference. In this case,
184 let's pass ``-p HEAD~2`` to the script so it c    184 let's pass ``-p HEAD~2`` to the script so it checks UAPI changes between
185 ``HEAD~2`` and ``HEAD``::                         185 ``HEAD~2`` and ``HEAD``::
186                                                   186 
187     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh -p HEAD~2           187     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh -p HEAD~2
188     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from H    188     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from HEAD... OK
189     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from H    189     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from HEAD~2... OK
190     Checking changes to UAPI headers between H    190     Checking changes to UAPI headers between HEAD~2 and HEAD...
191     ==== ABI differences detected in include/l    191     ==== ABI differences detected in include/linux/bpf.h from HEAD~2 -> HEAD ====
192         [C] 'struct bpf_insn' changed:            192         [C] 'struct bpf_insn' changed:
193           type size hasn't changed                193           type size hasn't changed
194           2 data member changes:                  194           2 data member changes:
195             '__u8 dst_reg' offset changed from    195             '__u8 dst_reg' offset changed from 8 to 12 (in bits) (by +4 bits)
196             '__u8 src_reg' offset changed from    196             '__u8 src_reg' offset changed from 12 to 8 (in bits) (by -4 bits)
197     ==========================================    197     ==============================================================================
198                                                   198 
199     error - 1/912 UAPI headers compatible with    199     error - 1/912 UAPI headers compatible with x86 appear _not_ to be backwards compatible
200                                                   200 
201 Alternatively, we could have also run with ``-    201 Alternatively, we could have also run with ``-b HEAD~``. This would set the
202 base reference to ``HEAD~`` so then the script    202 base reference to ``HEAD~`` so then the script would compare it to ``HEAD~^1``.
203                                                   203 
204 Architecture-specific Headers                     204 Architecture-specific Headers
205 -----------------------------                     205 -----------------------------
206                                                   206 
207 Consider this change::                            207 Consider this change::
208                                                   208 
209     cat << 'EOF' | patch -l -p1                   209     cat << 'EOF' | patch -l -p1
210     --- a/arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/sigconte    210     --- a/arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/sigcontext.h
211     +++ b/arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/sigconte    211     +++ b/arch/arm64/include/uapi/asm/sigcontext.h
212     @@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ struct sigcontext {         212     @@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ struct sigcontext {
213      struct _aarch64_ctx {                        213      struct _aarch64_ctx {
214             __u32 magic;                          214             __u32 magic;
215             __u32 size;                           215             __u32 size;
216     +       __u32 new_var;                        216     +       __u32 new_var;
217      };                                           217      };
218                                                   218 
219      #define FPSIMD_MAGIC   0x46508001            219      #define FPSIMD_MAGIC   0x46508001
220     EOF                                           220     EOF
221                                                   221 
222 This is a change to an arm64-specific UAPI hea    222 This is a change to an arm64-specific UAPI header file. In this example, I'm
223 running the script from an x86 machine with an    223 running the script from an x86 machine with an x86 compiler, so, by default,
224 the script only checks x86-compatible UAPI hea    224 the script only checks x86-compatible UAPI header files::
225                                                   225 
226     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh                     226     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh
227     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from d    227     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from dirty tree... OK
228     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from H    228     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from HEAD... OK
229     No changes to UAPI headers were applied be    229     No changes to UAPI headers were applied between HEAD and dirty tree
230                                                   230 
231 With an x86 compiler, we can't check header fi    231 With an x86 compiler, we can't check header files in ``arch/arm64``, so the
232 script doesn't even try.                          232 script doesn't even try.
233                                                   233 
234 If we want to check the header file, we'll hav    234 If we want to check the header file, we'll have to use an arm64 compiler and
235 set ``ARCH`` accordingly::                        235 set ``ARCH`` accordingly::
236                                                   236 
237     % CC=aarch64-linux-gnu-gcc ARCH=arm64 ./sc    237     % CC=aarch64-linux-gnu-gcc ARCH=arm64 ./scripts/check-uapi.sh
238     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from d    238     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from dirty tree... OK
239     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from H    239     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from HEAD... OK
240     Checking changes to UAPI headers between H    240     Checking changes to UAPI headers between HEAD and dirty tree...
241     ==== ABI differences detected in include/a    241     ==== ABI differences detected in include/asm/sigcontext.h from HEAD -> dirty tree ====
242         [C] 'struct _aarch64_ctx' changed:        242         [C] 'struct _aarch64_ctx' changed:
243           type size changed from 64 to 96 (in     243           type size changed from 64 to 96 (in bits)
244           1 data member insertion:                244           1 data member insertion:
245             '__u32 new_var', at offset 64 (in     245             '__u32 new_var', at offset 64 (in bits) at sigcontext.h:73:1
246         -- snip --                                246         -- snip --
247         [C] 'struct zt_context' changed:          247         [C] 'struct zt_context' changed:
248           type size changed from 128 to 160 (i    248           type size changed from 128 to 160 (in bits)
249           2 data member changes (1 filtered):     249           2 data member changes (1 filtered):
250             '__u16 nregs' offset changed from     250             '__u16 nregs' offset changed from 64 to 96 (in bits) (by +32 bits)
251             '__u16 __reserved[3]' offset chang    251             '__u16 __reserved[3]' offset changed from 80 to 112 (in bits) (by +32 bits)
252     ==========================================    252     =======================================================================================
253                                                   253 
254     error - 1/884 UAPI headers compatible with    254     error - 1/884 UAPI headers compatible with arm64 appear _not_ to be backwards compatible
255                                                   255 
256 We can see with ``ARCH`` and ``CC`` set proper    256 We can see with ``ARCH`` and ``CC`` set properly for the file, the ABI
257 change is reported properly. Also notice that     257 change is reported properly. Also notice that the total number of UAPI
258 header files checked by the script changes. Th    258 header files checked by the script changes. This is because the number
259 of headers installed for arm64 platforms is di    259 of headers installed for arm64 platforms is different than x86.
260                                                   260 
261 Cross-Dependency Breakages                        261 Cross-Dependency Breakages
262 --------------------------                        262 --------------------------
263                                                   263 
264 Consider this change::                            264 Consider this change::
265                                                   265 
266     cat << 'EOF' | patch -l -p1                   266     cat << 'EOF' | patch -l -p1
267     --- a/include/uapi/linux/types.h              267     --- a/include/uapi/linux/types.h
268     +++ b/include/uapi/linux/types.h              268     +++ b/include/uapi/linux/types.h
269     @@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ typedef __u32 __bitwise     269     @@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ typedef __u32 __bitwise __wsum;
270      #define __aligned_be64 __be64 __attribute    270      #define __aligned_be64 __be64 __attribute__((aligned(8)))
271      #define __aligned_le64 __le64 __attribute    271      #define __aligned_le64 __le64 __attribute__((aligned(8)))
272                                                   272 
273     -typedef unsigned __bitwise __poll_t;         273     -typedef unsigned __bitwise __poll_t;
274     +typedef unsigned short __bitwise __poll_t    274     +typedef unsigned short __bitwise __poll_t;
275                                                   275 
276      #endif /*  __ASSEMBLY__ */                   276      #endif /*  __ASSEMBLY__ */
277      #endif /* _UAPI_LINUX_TYPES_H */             277      #endif /* _UAPI_LINUX_TYPES_H */
278     EOF                                           278     EOF
279                                                   279 
280 Here, we're changing a ``typedef`` in ``types.    280 Here, we're changing a ``typedef`` in ``types.h``. This doesn't break
281 a UAPI in ``types.h``, but other UAPIs in the     281 a UAPI in ``types.h``, but other UAPIs in the tree may break due to
282 this change::                                     282 this change::
283                                                   283 
284     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh                     284     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh
285     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from d    285     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from dirty tree... OK
286     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from H    286     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from HEAD... OK
287     Checking changes to UAPI headers between H    287     Checking changes to UAPI headers between HEAD and dirty tree...
288     ==== ABI differences detected in include/l    288     ==== ABI differences detected in include/linux/eventpoll.h from HEAD -> dirty tree ====
289         [C] 'struct epoll_event' changed:         289         [C] 'struct epoll_event' changed:
290           type size changed from 96 to 80 (in     290           type size changed from 96 to 80 (in bits)
291           2 data member changes:                  291           2 data member changes:
292             type of '__poll_t events' changed:    292             type of '__poll_t events' changed:
293               underlying type 'unsigned int' c    293               underlying type 'unsigned int' changed:
294                 type name changed from 'unsign    294                 type name changed from 'unsigned int' to 'unsigned short int'
295                 type size changed from 32 to 1    295                 type size changed from 32 to 16 (in bits)
296             '__u64 data' offset changed from 3    296             '__u64 data' offset changed from 32 to 16 (in bits) (by -16 bits)
297     ==========================================    297     ========================================================================================
298     include/linux/eventpoll.h did not change b    298     include/linux/eventpoll.h did not change between HEAD and dirty tree...
299     It's possible a change to one of the heade    299     It's possible a change to one of the headers it includes caused this error:
300     #include <linux/fcntl.h>                      300     #include <linux/fcntl.h>
301     #include <linux/types.h>                      301     #include <linux/types.h>
302                                                   302 
303 Note that the script noticed the failing heade    303 Note that the script noticed the failing header file did not change,
304 so it assumes one of its includes must have ca    304 so it assumes one of its includes must have caused the breakage. Indeed,
305 we can see ``linux/types.h`` is used from ``ev    305 we can see ``linux/types.h`` is used from ``eventpoll.h``.
306                                                   306 
307 UAPI Header Removals                              307 UAPI Header Removals
308 --------------------                              308 --------------------
309                                                   309 
310 Consider this change::                            310 Consider this change::
311                                                   311 
312     cat << 'EOF' | patch -l -p1                   312     cat << 'EOF' | patch -l -p1
313     diff --git a/include/uapi/asm-generic/Kbui    313     diff --git a/include/uapi/asm-generic/Kbuild b/include/uapi/asm-generic/Kbuild
314     index ebb180aac74e..a9c88b0a8b3b 100644       314     index ebb180aac74e..a9c88b0a8b3b 100644
315     --- a/include/uapi/asm-generic/Kbuild         315     --- a/include/uapi/asm-generic/Kbuild
316     +++ b/include/uapi/asm-generic/Kbuild         316     +++ b/include/uapi/asm-generic/Kbuild
317     @@ -31,6 +31,6 @@ mandatory-y += stat.h       317     @@ -31,6 +31,6 @@ mandatory-y += stat.h
318      mandatory-y += statfs.h                      318      mandatory-y += statfs.h
319      mandatory-y += swab.h                        319      mandatory-y += swab.h
320      mandatory-y += termbits.h                    320      mandatory-y += termbits.h
321     -mandatory-y += termios.h                     321     -mandatory-y += termios.h
322     +#mandatory-y += termios.h                    322     +#mandatory-y += termios.h
323      mandatory-y += types.h                       323      mandatory-y += types.h
324      mandatory-y += unistd.h                      324      mandatory-y += unistd.h
325     EOF                                           325     EOF
326                                                   326 
327 This script removes a UAPI header file from th    327 This script removes a UAPI header file from the install list. Let's run
328 the script::                                      328 the script::
329                                                   329 
330     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh                     330     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh
331     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from d    331     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from dirty tree... OK
332     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from H    332     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from HEAD... OK
333     Checking changes to UAPI headers between H    333     Checking changes to UAPI headers between HEAD and dirty tree...
334     ==== UAPI header include/asm/termios.h was    334     ==== UAPI header include/asm/termios.h was removed between HEAD and dirty tree ====
335                                                   335 
336     error - 1/912 UAPI headers compatible with    336     error - 1/912 UAPI headers compatible with x86 appear _not_ to be backwards compatible
337                                                   337 
338 Removing a UAPI header is considered a breakin    338 Removing a UAPI header is considered a breaking change, and the script
339 will flag it as such.                             339 will flag it as such.
340                                                   340 
341 Checking Historic UAPI Compatibility              341 Checking Historic UAPI Compatibility
342 ------------------------------------              342 ------------------------------------
343                                                   343 
344 You can use the ``-b`` and ``-p`` options to e    344 You can use the ``-b`` and ``-p`` options to examine different chunks of your
345 git tree. For example, to check all changed UA    345 git tree. For example, to check all changed UAPI header files between tags
346 v6.0 and v6.1, you'd run::                        346 v6.0 and v6.1, you'd run::
347                                                   347 
348     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh -b v6.1 -p v6.0     348     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh -b v6.1 -p v6.0
349     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from v    349     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from v6.1... OK
350     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from v    350     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from v6.0... OK
351     Checking changes to UAPI headers between v    351     Checking changes to UAPI headers between v6.0 and v6.1...
352                                                   352 
353     --- snip ---                                  353     --- snip ---
354     error - 37/907 UAPI headers compatible wit    354     error - 37/907 UAPI headers compatible with x86 appear _not_ to be backwards compatible
355                                                   355 
356 Note: Before v5.3, a header file needed by the    356 Note: Before v5.3, a header file needed by the script is not present,
357 so the script is unable to check changes befor    357 so the script is unable to check changes before then.
358                                                   358 
359 You'll notice that the script detected many UA    359 You'll notice that the script detected many UAPI changes that are not
360 backwards compatible. Knowing that kernel UAPI    360 backwards compatible. Knowing that kernel UAPIs are supposed to be stable
361 forever, this is an alarming result. This brin    361 forever, this is an alarming result. This brings us to the next section:
362 caveats.                                          362 caveats.
363                                                   363 
364 Caveats                                           364 Caveats
365 =======                                           365 =======
366                                                   366 
367 The UAPI checker makes no assumptions about th    367 The UAPI checker makes no assumptions about the author's intention, so some
368 types of changes may be flagged even though th    368 types of changes may be flagged even though they intentionally break UAPI.
369                                                   369 
370 Removals For Refactoring or Deprecation           370 Removals For Refactoring or Deprecation
371 ---------------------------------------           371 ---------------------------------------
372                                                   372 
373 Sometimes drivers for very old hardware are re    373 Sometimes drivers for very old hardware are removed, such as in this example::
374                                                   374 
375     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh -b ba47652ba655     375     % ./scripts/check-uapi.sh -b ba47652ba655
376     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from b    376     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from ba47652ba655... OK
377     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from b    377     Installing user-facing UAPI headers from ba47652ba655^1... OK
378     Checking changes to UAPI headers between b    378     Checking changes to UAPI headers between ba47652ba655^1 and ba47652ba655...
379     ==== UAPI header include/linux/meye.h was     379     ==== UAPI header include/linux/meye.h was removed between ba47652ba655^1 and ba47652ba655 ====
380                                                   380 
381     error - 1/910 UAPI headers compatible with    381     error - 1/910 UAPI headers compatible with x86 appear _not_ to be backwards compatible
382                                                   382 
383 The script will always flag removals (even if     383 The script will always flag removals (even if they're intentional).
384                                                   384 
385 Struct Expansions                                 385 Struct Expansions
386 -----------------                                 386 -----------------
387                                                   387 
388 Depending on how a structure is handled in ker    388 Depending on how a structure is handled in kernelspace, a change which
389 expands a struct could be non-breaking.           389 expands a struct could be non-breaking.
390                                                   390 
391 If a struct is used as the argument to an ioct    391 If a struct is used as the argument to an ioctl, then the kernel driver
392 must be able to handle ioctl commands of any s    392 must be able to handle ioctl commands of any size. Beyond that, you need
393 to be careful when copying data from the user.    393 to be careful when copying data from the user. Say, for example, that
394 ``struct foo`` is changed like this::             394 ``struct foo`` is changed like this::
395                                                   395 
396     struct foo {                                  396     struct foo {
397         __u64 a; /* added in version 1 */         397         __u64 a; /* added in version 1 */
398     +   __u32 b; /* added in version 2 */         398     +   __u32 b; /* added in version 2 */
399     +   __u32 c; /* added in version 2 */         399     +   __u32 c; /* added in version 2 */
400     }                                             400     }
401                                                   401 
402 By default, the script will flag this kind of     402 By default, the script will flag this kind of change for further review::
403                                                   403 
404     [C] 'struct foo' changed:                     404     [C] 'struct foo' changed:
405       type size changed from 64 to 128 (in bit    405       type size changed from 64 to 128 (in bits)
406       2 data member insertions:                   406       2 data member insertions:
407         '__u32 b', at offset 64 (in bits)         407         '__u32 b', at offset 64 (in bits)
408         '__u32 c', at offset 96 (in bits)         408         '__u32 c', at offset 96 (in bits)
409                                                   409 
410 However, it is possible that this change was m    410 However, it is possible that this change was made safely.
411                                                   411 
412 If a userspace program was built with version     412 If a userspace program was built with version 1, it will think
413 ``sizeof(struct foo)`` is 8. That size will be    413 ``sizeof(struct foo)`` is 8. That size will be encoded in the
414 ioctl value that gets sent to the kernel. If t    414 ioctl value that gets sent to the kernel. If the kernel is built
415 with version 2, it will think the ``sizeof(str    415 with version 2, it will think the ``sizeof(struct foo)`` is 16.
416                                                   416 
417 The kernel can use the ``_IOC_SIZE`` macro to     417 The kernel can use the ``_IOC_SIZE`` macro to get the size encoded
418 in the ioctl code that the user passed in and     418 in the ioctl code that the user passed in and then use
419 ``copy_struct_from_user()`` to safely copy the    419 ``copy_struct_from_user()`` to safely copy the value::
420                                                   420 
421     int handle_ioctl(unsigned long cmd, unsign    421     int handle_ioctl(unsigned long cmd, unsigned long arg)
422     {                                             422     {
423         switch _IOC_NR(cmd) {                     423         switch _IOC_NR(cmd) {
424         0x01: {                                   424         0x01: {
425             struct foo my_cmd;  /* size 16 in     425             struct foo my_cmd;  /* size 16 in the kernel */
426                                                   426 
427             ret = copy_struct_from_user(&my_cm    427             ret = copy_struct_from_user(&my_cmd, arg, sizeof(struct foo), _IOC_SIZE(cmd));
428             ...                                   428             ...
429                                                   429 
430 ``copy_struct_from_user`` will zero the struct    430 ``copy_struct_from_user`` will zero the struct in the kernel and then copy
431 only the bytes passed in from the user (leavin    431 only the bytes passed in from the user (leaving new members zeroized).
432 If the user passed in a larger struct, the ext    432 If the user passed in a larger struct, the extra members are ignored.
433                                                   433 
434 If you know this situation is accounted for in    434 If you know this situation is accounted for in the kernel code, you can
435 pass ``-i`` to the script, and struct expansio    435 pass ``-i`` to the script, and struct expansions like this will be ignored.
436                                                   436 
437 Flex Array Migration                              437 Flex Array Migration
438 --------------------                              438 --------------------
439                                                   439 
440 While the script handles expansion into an exi    440 While the script handles expansion into an existing flex array, it does
441 still flag initial migration to flex arrays fr    441 still flag initial migration to flex arrays from 1-element fake flex
442 arrays. For example::                             442 arrays. For example::
443                                                   443 
444     struct foo {                                  444     struct foo {
445           __u32 x;                                445           __u32 x;
446     -     __u32 flex[1]; /* fake flex */          446     -     __u32 flex[1]; /* fake flex */
447     +     __u32 flex[];  /* real flex */          447     +     __u32 flex[];  /* real flex */
448     };                                            448     };
449                                                   449 
450 This change would be flagged by the script::      450 This change would be flagged by the script::
451                                                   451 
452     [C] 'struct foo' changed:                     452     [C] 'struct foo' changed:
453       type size changed from 64 to 32 (in bits    453       type size changed from 64 to 32 (in bits)
454       1 data member change:                       454       1 data member change:
455         type of '__u32 flex[1]' changed:          455         type of '__u32 flex[1]' changed:
456           type name changed from '__u32[1]' to    456           type name changed from '__u32[1]' to '__u32[]'
457           array type size changed from 32 to '    457           array type size changed from 32 to 'unknown'
458           array type subrange 1 changed length    458           array type subrange 1 changed length from 1 to 'unknown'
459                                                   459 
460 At this time, there's no way to filter these t    460 At this time, there's no way to filter these types of changes, so be
461 aware of this possible false positive.            461 aware of this possible false positive.
462                                                   462 
463 Summary                                           463 Summary
464 -------                                           464 -------
465                                                   465 
466 While many types of false positives are filter    466 While many types of false positives are filtered out by the script,
467 it's possible there are some cases where the s    467 it's possible there are some cases where the script flags a change
468 which does not break UAPI. It's also possible     468 which does not break UAPI. It's also possible a change which *does*
469 break userspace would not be flagged by this s    469 break userspace would not be flagged by this script. While the script
470 has been run on much of the kernel history, th    470 has been run on much of the kernel history, there could still be corner
471 cases that are not accounted for.                 471 cases that are not accounted for.
472                                                   472 
473 The intention is for this script to be used as    473 The intention is for this script to be used as a quick check for
474 maintainers or automated tooling, not as the e    474 maintainers or automated tooling, not as the end-all authority on
475 patch compatibility. It's best to remember: us    475 patch compatibility. It's best to remember: use your best judgment
476 (and ideally a unit test in userspace) to make    476 (and ideally a unit test in userspace) to make sure your UAPI changes
477 are backwards-compatible!                         477 are backwards-compatible!
                                                      

~ [ source navigation ] ~ [ diff markup ] ~ [ identifier search ] ~

kernel.org | git.kernel.org | LWN.net | Project Home | SVN repository | Mail admin

Linux® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States and other countries.
TOMOYO® is a registered trademark of NTT DATA CORPORATION.

sflogo.php