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| -rw-r--r-- | Documentation/dev-tools/checkpatch.rst | 513 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | Documentation/dev-tools/index.rst | 1 |
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diff --git a/Documentation/dev-tools/checkpatch.rst b/Documentation/dev-tools/checkpatch.rst new file mode 100644 index 000000000000..2671e54c8320 --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/dev-tools/checkpatch.rst @@ -0,0 +1,513 @@ +.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0-only + +========== +Checkpatch +========== + +Checkpatch (scripts/checkpatch.pl) is a perl script which checks for trivial +style violations in patches and optionally corrects them. Checkpatch can +also be run on file contexts and without the kernel tree. + +Checkpatch is not always right. Your judgement takes precedence over checkpatch +messages. If your code looks better with the violations, then its probably +best left alone. + + +Options +======= + +This section will describe the options checkpatch can be run with. + +Usage:: + + ./scripts/checkpatch.pl [OPTION]... [FILE]... + +Available options: + + - -q, --quiet + + Enable quiet mode. + + - -v, --verbose + Enable verbose mode. Additional verbose test descriptions are output + so as to provide information on why that particular message is shown. + + - --no-tree + + Run checkpatch without the kernel tree. + + - --no-signoff + + Disable the 'Signed-off-by' line check. The sign-off is a simple line at + the end of the explanation for the patch, which certifies that you wrote it + or otherwise have the right to pass it on as an open-source patch. + + Example:: + + Signed-off-by: Random J Developer <random@developer.example.org> + + Setting this flag effectively stops a message for a missing signed-off-by + line in a patch context. + + - --patch + + Treat FILE as a patch. This is the default option and need not be + explicitly specified. + + - --emacs + + Set output to emacs compile window format. This allows emacs users to jump + from the error in the compile window directly to the offending line in the + patch. + + - --terse + + Output only one line per report. + + - --showfile + + Show the diffed file position instead of the input file position. + + - -g, --git + + Treat FILE as a single commit or a git revision range. + + Single commit with: + + - <rev> + - <rev>^ + - <rev>~n + + Multiple commits with: + + - <rev1>..<rev2> + - <rev1>...<rev2> + - <rev>-<count> + + - -f, --file + + Treat FILE as a regular source file. This option must be used when running + checkpatch on source files in the kernel. + + - --subjective, --strict + + Enable stricter tests in checkpatch. By default the tests emitted as CHECK + do not activate by default. Use this flag to activate the CHECK tests. + + - --list-types + + Every message emitted by checkpatch has an associated TYPE. Add this flag + to display all the types in checkpatch. + + Note that when this flag is active, checkpatch does not read the input FILE, + and no message is emitted. Only a list of types in checkpatch is output. + + - --types TYPE(,TYPE2...) + + Only display messages with the given types. + + Example:: + + ./scripts/checkpatch.pl mypatch.patch --types EMAIL_SUBJECT,BRACES + + - --ignore TYPE(,TYPE2...) + + Checkpatch will not emit messages for the specified types. + + Example:: + + ./scripts/checkpatch.pl mypatch.patch --ignore EMAIL_SUBJECT,BRACES + + - --show-types + + By default checkpatch doesn't display the type associated with the messages. + Set this flag to show the message type in the output. + + - --max-line-length=n + + Set the max line length (default 100). If a line exceeds the specified + length, a LONG_LINE message is emitted. + + + The message level is different for patch and file contexts. For patches, + a WARNING is emitted. While a milder CHECK is emitted for files. So for + file contexts, the --strict flag must also be enabled. + + - --min-conf-desc-length=n + + Set the Kconfig entry minimum description length, if shorter, warn. + + - --tab-size=n + + Set the number of spaces for tab (default 8). + + - --root=PATH + + PATH to the kernel tree root. + + This option must be specified when invoking checkpatch from outside + the kernel root. + + - --no-summary + + Suppress the per file summary. + + - --mailback + + Only produce a report in case of Warnings or Errors. Milder Checks are + excluded from this. + + - --summary-file + + Include the filename in summary. + + - --debug KEY=[0|1] + + Turn on/off debugging of KEY, where KEY is one of 'values', 'possible', + 'type', and 'attr' (default is all off). + + - --fix + + This is an EXPERIMENTAL feature. If correctable errors exists, a file + <inputfile>.EXPERIMENTAL-checkpatch-fixes is created which has the + automatically fixable errors corrected. + + - --fix-inplace + + EXPERIMENTAL - Similar to --fix but input file is overwritten with fixes. + + DO NOT USE this flag unless you are absolutely sure and you have a backup + in place. + + - --ignore-perl-version + + Override checking of perl version. Runtime errors maybe encountered after + enabling this flag if the perl version does not meet the minimum specified. + + - --codespell + + Use the codespell dictionary for checking spelling errors. + + - --codespellfile + + Use the specified codespell file. + Default is '/usr/share/codespell/dictionary.txt'. + + - --typedefsfile + + Read additional types from this file. + + - --color[=WHEN] + + Use colors 'always', 'never', or only when output is a terminal ('auto'). + Default is 'auto'. + + - --kconfig-prefix=WORD + + Use WORD as a prefix for Kconfig symbols (default is `CONFIG_`). + + - -h, --help, --version + + Display the help text. + +Message Levels +============== + +Messages in checkpatch are divided into three levels. The levels of messages +in checkpatch denote the severity of the error. They are: + + - ERROR + + This is the most strict level. Messages of type ERROR must be taken + seriously as they denote things that are very likely to be wrong. + + - WARNING + + This is the next stricter level. Messages of type WARNING requires a + more careful review. But it is milder than an ERROR. + + - CHECK + + This is the mildest level. These are things which may require some thought. + +Type Descriptions +================= + +This section contains a description of all the message types in checkpatch. + +.. Types in this section are also parsed by checkpatch. +.. The types are grouped into subsections based on use. + + +Allocation style +---------------- + + **ALLOC_ARRAY_ARGS** + The first argument for kcalloc or kmalloc_array should be the + number of elements. sizeof() as the first argument is generally + wrong. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/core-api/memory-allocation.html + + **ALLOC_SIZEOF_STRUCT** + The allocation style is bad. In general for family of + allocation functions using sizeof() to get memory size, + constructs like:: + + p = alloc(sizeof(struct foo), ...) + + should be:: + + p = alloc(sizeof(*p), ...) + + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/coding-style.html#allocating-memory + + **ALLOC_WITH_MULTIPLY** + Prefer kmalloc_array/kcalloc over kmalloc/kzalloc with a + sizeof multiply. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/core-api/memory-allocation.html + + +API usage +--------- + + **ARCH_DEFINES** + Architecture specific defines should be avoided wherever + possible. + + **ARCH_INCLUDE_LINUX** + Whenever asm/file.h is included and linux/file.h exists, a + conversion can be made when linux/file.h includes asm/file.h. + However this is not always the case (See signal.h). + This message type is emitted only for includes from arch/. + + **ARRAY_SIZE** + The ARRAY_SIZE(foo) macro should be preferred over + sizeof(foo)/sizeof(foo[0]) for finding number of elements in an + array. + + The macro is defined in include/linux/kernel.h:: + + #define ARRAY_SIZE(x) (sizeof(x) / sizeof((x)[0])) + + **AVOID_BUG** + BUG() or BUG_ON() should be avoided totally. + Use WARN() and WARN_ON() instead, and handle the "impossible" + error condition as gracefully as possible. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/deprecated.html#bug-and-bug-on + + **AVOID_EXTERNS** + Function prototypes don't need to be declared extern in .h + files. It's assumed by the compiler and is unnecessary. + + **AVOID_L_PREFIX** + Local symbol names that are prefixed with `.L` should be avoided, + as this has special meaning for the assembler; a symbol entry will + not be emitted into the symbol table. This can prevent `objtool` + from generating correct unwind info. + + Symbols with STB_LOCAL binding may still be used, and `.L` prefixed + local symbol names are still generally usable within a function, + but `.L` prefixed local symbol names should not be used to denote + the beginning or end of code regions via + `SYM_CODE_START_LOCAL`/`SYM_CODE_END` + + **BIT_MACRO** + Defines like: 1 << <digit> could be BIT(digit). + The BIT() macro is defined in include/linux/bitops.h:: + + #define BIT(nr) (1UL << (nr)) + + **CONSIDER_KSTRTO** + The simple_strtol(), simple_strtoll(), simple_strtoul(), and + simple_strtoull() functions explicitly ignore overflows, which + may lead to unexpected results in callers. The respective kstrtol(), + kstrtoll(), kstrtoul(), and kstrtoull() functions tend to be the + correct replacements. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/deprecated.html#simple-strtol-simple-strtoll-simple-strtoul-simple-strtoull + + +Comment style +------------- + + **BLOCK_COMMENT_STYLE** + The comment style is incorrect. The preferred style for multi- + line comments is:: + + /* + * This is the preferred style + * for multi line comments. + */ + + The networking comment style is a bit different, with the first line + not empty like the former:: + + /* This is the preferred comment style + * for files in net/ and drivers/net/ + */ + + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/coding-style.html#commenting + + **C99_COMMENTS** + C99 style single line comments (//) should not be used. + Prefer the block comment style instead. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/coding-style.html#commenting + + + +Commit message +-------------- + + **BAD_SIGN_OFF** + The signed-off-by line does not fall in line with the standards + specified by the community. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/submitting-patches.html#developer-s-certificate-of-origin-1-1 + + **BAD_STABLE_ADDRESS_STYLE** + The email format for stable is incorrect. + Some valid options for stable address are:: + + 1. stable@vger.kernel.org + 2. stable@kernel.org + + For adding version info, the following comment style should be used:: + + stable@vger.kernel.org # version info + + **COMMIT_COMMENT_SYMBOL** + Commit log lines starting with a '#' are ignored by git as + comments. To solve this problem addition of a single space + infront of the log line is enough. + + **COMMIT_MESSAGE** + The patch is missing a commit description. A brief + description of the changes made by the patch should be added. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/submitting-patches.html#describe-your-changes + + **MISSING_SIGN_OFF** + The patch is missing a Signed-off-by line. A signed-off-by + line should be added according to Developer's certificate of + Origin. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/submitting-patches.html#sign-your-work-the-developer-s-certificate-of-origin + + **NO_AUTHOR_SIGN_OFF** + The author of the patch has not signed off the patch. It is + required that a simple sign off line should be present at the + end of explanation of the patch to denote that the author has + written it or otherwise has the rights to pass it on as an open + source patch. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/submitting-patches.html#sign-your-work-the-developer-s-certificate-of-origin + + +Comparison style +---------------- + + **ASSIGN_IN_IF** + Do not use assignments in if condition. + Example:: + + if ((foo = bar(...)) < BAZ) { + + should be written as:: + + foo = bar(...); + if (foo < BAZ) { + + **BOOL_COMPARISON** + Comparisons of A to true and false are better written + as A and !A. + See: https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/1365563834.27174.12.camel@joe-AO722/ + + **COMPARISON_TO_NULL** + Comparisons to NULL in the form (foo == NULL) or (foo != NULL) + are better written as (!foo) and (foo). + + **CONSTANT_COMPARISON** + Comparisons with a constant or upper case identifier on the left + side of the test should be avoided. + + +Spacing and Brackets +-------------------- + + **ASSIGNMENT_CONTINUATIONS** + Assignment operators should not be written at the start of a + line but should follow the operand at the previous line. + + **BRACES** + The placement of braces is stylistically incorrect. + The preferred way is to put the opening brace last on the line, + and put the closing brace first:: + + if (x is true) { + we do y + } + + This applies for all non-functional blocks. + However, there is one special case, namely functions: they have the + opening brace at the beginning of the next line, thus:: + + int function(int x) + { + body of function + } + + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/coding-style.html#placing-braces-and-spaces + + **BRACKET_SPACE** + Whitespace before opening bracket '[' is prohibited. + There are some exceptions: + + 1. With a type on the left:: + + ;int [] a; + + 2. At the beginning of a line for slice initialisers:: + + [0...10] = 5, + + 3. Inside a curly brace:: + + = { [0...10] = 5 } + + **CODE_INDENT** + Code indent should use tabs instead of spaces. + Outside of comments, documentation and Kconfig, + spaces are never used for indentation. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/coding-style.html#indentation + + **CONCATENATED_STRING** + Concatenated elements should have a space in between. + Example:: + + printk(KERN_INFO"bar"); + + should be:: + + printk(KERN_INFO "bar"); + + **LINE_SPACING** + Vertical space is wasted given the limited number of lines an + editor window can display when multiple blank lines are used. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/coding-style.html#spaces + + **SPACING** + Whitespace style used in the kernel sources is described in kernel docs. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/coding-style.html#spaces + + **TRAILING_WHITESPACE** + Trailing whitespace should always be removed. + Some editors highlight the trailing whitespace and cause visual + distractions when editing files. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/coding-style.html#spaces + + +Others +------ + + **CAMELCASE** + Avoid CamelCase Identifiers. + See: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/coding-style.html#naming + + **CONFIG_DESCRIPTION** + Kconfig symbols should have a help text which fully describes + it. diff --git a/Documentation/dev-tools/index.rst b/Documentation/dev-tools/index.rst index 1b1cf4f5c9d9..43d28998118b 100644 --- a/Documentation/dev-tools/index.rst +++ b/Documentation/dev-tools/index.rst @@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ whole; patches welcome! .. toctree:: :maxdepth: 2 + checkpatch coccinelle sparse kcov |