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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/gpio/using-gpio.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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+=========================
+Using GPIO Lines in Linux
+=========================
+
+The Linux kernel exists to abstract and present hardware to users. GPIO lines
+as such are normally not user facing abstractions. The most obvious, natural
+and preferred way to use GPIO lines is to let kernel hardware drivers deal
+with them.
+
+For examples of already existing generic drivers that will also be good
+examples for any other kernel drivers you want to author, refer to
+Documentation/driver-api/gpio/drivers-on-gpio.rst
+
+For any kind of mass produced system you want to support, such as servers,
+laptops, phones, tablets, routers, and any consumer or office or business goods
+using appropriate kernel drivers is paramount. Submit your code for inclusion
+in the upstream Linux kernel when you feel it is mature enough and you will get
+help to refine it, see Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst.
+
+In Linux GPIO lines also have a userspace ABI.
+
+The userspace ABI is intended for one-off deployments. Examples are prototypes,
+factory lines, maker community projects, workshop specimen, production tools,
+industrial automation, PLC-type use cases, door controllers, in short a piece
+of specialized equipment that is not produced by the numbers, requiring
+operators to have a deep knowledge of the equipment and knows about the
+software-hardware interface to be set up. They should not have a natural fit
+to any existing kernel subsystem and not be a good fit for an operating system,
+because of not being reusable or abstract enough, or involving a lot of non
+computer hardware related policy.
+
+Applications that have a good reason to use the industrial I/O (IIO) subsystem
+from userspace will likely be a good fit for using GPIO lines from userspace as
+well.
+
+Do not under any circumstances abuse the GPIO userspace ABI to cut corners in
+any product development projects. If you use it for prototyping, then do not
+productify the prototype: rewrite it using proper kernel drivers. Do not under
+any circumstances deploy any uniform products using GPIO from userspace.
+
+The userspace ABI is a character device for each GPIO hardware unit (GPIO chip).
+These devices will appear on the system as ``/dev/gpiochip0`` thru
+``/dev/gpiochipN``. Examples of how to directly use the userspace ABI can be
+found in the kernel tree ``tools/gpio`` subdirectory.
+
+For structured and managed applications, we recommend that you make use of the
+libgpiod_ library. This provides helper abstractions, command line utilities
+and arbitration for multiple simultaneous consumers on the same GPIO chip.
+
+.. _libgpiod: https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/libs/libgpiod/libgpiod.git/