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authorRob Herring (Arm) <robh@kernel.org>2026-08-31 14:43:51 -0500
committerDmitry Torokhov <dmitry.torokhov@gmail.com>2026-09-13 18:17:31 -0700
commit55fc280e951ab2b39f3dcb640edc1b1eebc6d173 (patch)
treef0b5f37b42fc13b9908a31b657c646b024231cdd /Documentation/driver-api/firmware/firmware-usage-guidelines.rst
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Input: tsc2007 - read "ti,poll-period" as u32grafted
The "ti,poll-period" property is documented as a normal uint32 cell. The driver used a u64 helper, which makes the helper type disagree with the schema even though the stored value is still small. Read "ti,poll-period" with the u32 helper matching the documented DT cell size. Assisted-by: Codex:gpt-5-5 Signed-off-by: Rob Herring (Arm) <robh@kernel.org> Link: https://patch.msgid.link/20260831194352.1185860-1-robh@kernel.org Signed-off-by: Dmitry Torokhov <dmitry.torokhov@gmail.com>
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+===================
+Firmware Guidelines
+===================
+
+Users switching to a newer kernel should *not* have to install newer
+firmware files to keep their hardware working. At the same time updated
+firmware files must not cause any regressions for users of older kernel
+releases.
+
+Drivers that use firmware from linux-firmware should follow the rules in
+this guide. (Where there is limited control of the firmware,
+i.e. company doesn't support Linux, firmwares sourced from misc places,
+then of course these rules will not apply strictly.)
+
+* Firmware files shall be designed in a way that it allows checking for
+ firmware ABI version changes. It is recommended that firmware files be
+ versioned with at least a major/minor version. It is suggested that
+ the firmware files in linux-firmware be named with some device
+ specific name, and just the major version. The firmware version should
+ be stored in the firmware header, or as an exception, as part of the
+ firmware file name, in order to let the driver detact any non-ABI
+ fixes/changes. The firmware files in linux-firmware should be
+ overwritten with the newest compatible major version. Newer major
+ version firmware shall remain compatible with all kernels that load
+ that major number.
+
+* If the kernel support for the hardware is normally inactive, or the
+ hardware isn't available for public consumption, this can
+ be ignored, until the first kernel release that enables that hardware.
+ This means no major version bumps without the kernel retaining
+ backwards compatibility for the older major versions. Minor version
+ bumps should not introduce new features that newer kernels depend on
+ non-optionally.
+
+* If a security fix needs lockstep firmware and kernel fixes in order to
+ be successful, then all supported major versions in the linux-firmware
+ repo that are required by currently supported stable/LTS kernels,
+ should be updated with the security fix. The kernel patches should
+ detect if the firmware is new enough to declare if the security issue
+ is fixed. All communications around security fixes should point at
+ both the firmware and kernel fixes. If a security fix requires
+ deprecating old major versions, then this should only be done as a
+ last option, and be stated clearly in all communications.
+
+* Firmware files that affect the User API (UAPI) shall not introduce
+ changes that break existing userspace programs. Updates to such firmware
+ must ensure backward compatibility with existing userspace applications.
+ This includes maintaining consistent interfaces and behaviors that
+ userspace programs rely on.