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authorDonggeun Yoo <donggeunyoo.kernel@gmail.com>2026-09-02 00:21:26 +0900
committerJonathan Cameron <jonathan.cameron@oss.qualcomm.com>2026-09-07 02:24:53 +0100
commite24328974a88aa8541e94e8bb8dfa2ade1b3c45d (patch)
tree43a2533acc955d11f5cb8be1ecba0ab8ba4cbb1e /Documentation/driver-api/firmware/firmware-usage-guidelines.rst
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iio: proximity: vl53l0x-i2c: claim direct mode for raw readsgrafted
vl53l0x_read_raw() starts a single-shot ranging measurement and reads back the result. Once the triggered buffer is enabled the sensor runs in continuous mode and its data-ready interrupt is routed to the trigger, so a concurrent in_distance_raw read disturbs the streaming setup and never gets its completion, returning -ETIMEDOUT. The original submission claimed direct mode here, but it was dropped during review because the driver had no buffer support at the time [1]. Continuous (buffered) mode was later added without restoring the claim [2], reintroducing the conflict. Reject direct reads while buffered capture is active by claiming direct mode around the measurement, as the vl53l1x sibling already does. Fixes: 762186c6e7b1 ("iio: proximity: vl53l0x-i2c: Added continuous mode support") Link: https://lore.kernel.org/linux-iio/20180911160300.GA9212@himanshu-Vostro-3559/ [1] Link: https://lore.kernel.org/linux-iio/20240909101508.263085-3-abhashkumarjha123@gmail.com/ [2] Signed-off-by: Donggeun Yoo <donggeunyoo.kernel@gmail.com> Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org Signed-off-by: Jonathan Cameron <jonathan.cameron@oss.qualcomm.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.