Re: [PATCH 2/2] sound: make OSS device number claiming optional

From: Tejun Heo
Date: Wed Aug 05 2009 - 12:50:21 EST


Alan Cox wrote:
>> I don't see how I would be able to achieve the latter with one liner.
>> Can you please elaborate a little bit?
>
> It depends how much of a hurry you are in, but for the mainstream we can
> do this
>
> 1. Make soundcore also issue the request_module() as if the char
> minor was unclaimed. Mark the old one as obsolete
>
> 2. Wait a year while people adjust their scripts to trigger on the
> char event instead (and fix the ordering bits for ALSA if the soundcore
> docs are still valid on that)
>
> 3. Apply a patch which makes ALSA use char dev allocation directly
> for its OSS devices and dumps out soundcore, remove soundcore and switch
> any other code using it.

It's quite difficult to think that those now mostly unused module
alises are worth full year of waiting and careful coordination. I
think we're chasing a non-issue here. If it really matters, I'll try
to teach chrdev about alternative module alises.

If you think the above is a good solution, how about the following?

1. Merge the weird switch thing and the extra standard chrdev module
alias patch

2. Add to feature-removal that snd-slot/service-* are going away in a
year along with the weird switches. This allows people who wish to
try or switch in the meantime to do so.

3. After a year, drop module loading related code from sound_core
along with the weird config option and kernel parameter.

In the end, the only choice we have to make is whether to keep
snd-slot/service-* aliases. If we're gonna (I don't see why tho), the
cleanest way would be to teach chrdev about aliases. If not, the best
way is to add a switch so that it can be phased out gradually.

Thanks.

--
tejun
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