Re: [PATCH] docs: deprecated.rst: Add note about DECLARE_FLEX_ARRAY() usage

From: Kees Cook
Date: Thu Jan 12 2023 - 14:45:54 EST


On Wed, Jan 11, 2023 at 04:11:41PM -0700, Jonathan Corbet wrote:
> Kees Cook <keescook@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>
> > There wasn't any mention of when/where DECLARE_FLEX_ARRAY() should be
> > used, so add the rationale and an example to the deprecation docs.
> >
> > Suggested-by: Vincent Mailhol <mailhol.vincent@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Cc: Jonathan Corbet <corbet@xxxxxxx>
> > Cc: "Gustavo A. R. Silva" <gustavoars@xxxxxxxxxx>
> > Cc: linux-doc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Signed-off-by: Kees Cook <keescook@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > ---
> > Documentation/process/deprecated.rst | 26 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> > 1 file changed, 26 insertions(+)
>
> I've applied this, but couldn't resist making one tweak...
>
> > diff --git a/Documentation/process/deprecated.rst b/Documentation/process/deprecated.rst
> > index c8fd53a11a20..fcac0a929efa 100644
> > --- a/Documentation/process/deprecated.rst
> > +++ b/Documentation/process/deprecated.rst
> > @@ -346,3 +346,29 @@ struct_size() and flex_array_size() helpers::
> > instance->count = count;
> >
> > memcpy(instance->items, source, flex_array_size(instance, items, instance->count));
> > +
> > +There are two special cases of replacement where the DECLARE_FLEX_ARRAY()
> > +helper needs to be used. (Note that it is named __DECLARE_FLEX_ARRAY() for
> > +use in UAPI headers.) When the flexible array is either alone in a struct,
> > +or is part of a union.
>
> The pedant in me couldn't stand leaving that sentence fragment, so I
> made a complete sentence out of it.

Thank you; I appreciate the help! :)

--
Kees Cook