[Linux-kernel-mentees] [RFC PATCH 00/17] Drop uses of pci_read_config_*() return value

[Tom Rix]

On 8/1/20 5:56 AM, Borislav Petkov wrote:
> On Sat, Aug 01, 2020 at 01:24:29PM +0200, Saheed O. Bolarinwa wrote:
>> The return value of pci_read_config_*() may not indicate a device error.
>> However, the value read by these functions is more likely to indicate
>> this kind of error. This presents two overlapping ways of reporting
>> errors and complicates error checking.
> So why isn't the *value check done in the pci_read_config_* functions
> instead of touching gazillion callers?
>
> For example, pci_conf{1,2}_read() could check whether the u32 *value it
> just read depending on the access method, whether that value is ~0 and
> return proper PCIBIOS_ error in that case.
>
> The check you're replicating
>
> 	if (val32 == (u32)~0)
>
> everywhere, instead, is just ugly and tests a naked value ~0 which
> doesn't mean anything...
>
I agree, if there is a change, it should be in the pci_read_* functions.

Anything returning void should not fail and likely future users of the proposed change will not do the extra checks.

Tom