[PATCH v13.1] rust: interop: Add list module for C linked list interface

Joel Fernandes
2026-03-19T21:07:40Z

Add a new module `kernel::interop::list` for working with C's doubly
circular linked lists. Provide low-level iteration over list nodes.

Typed iteration over actual items is provided with a `clist_create`
macro to assist in creation of the `CList` type.

Cc: Nikola Djukic <ndjukic@nvidia.com>
Reviewed-by: Daniel Almeida <daniel.almeida@collabora.com>
Reviewed-by: Alexandre Courbot <acourbot@nvidia.com>
Reviewed-by: Alice Ryhl <aliceryhl@google.com>
Acked-by: Alexandre Courbot <acourbot@nvidia.com>
Acked-by: Gary Guo <gary@garyguo.net>
Acked-by: Miguel Ojeda <ojeda@kernel.org>
Signed-off-by: Joel Fernandes <joelagnelf@nvidia.com>
---
Just resending this with changes to clippy safety lint fix (link:
https://lore.kernel.org/all/4728e901-df27-4685-a21a-d33a84946558@nvidia.com/)

MAINTAINERS | 8 +
rust/helpers/helpers.c | 1 +
rust/helpers/list.c | 17 ++
rust/kernel/interop/list.rs | 341 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
rust/kernel/interop/mod.rs | 9 +
rust/kernel/lib.rs | 2 +
6 files changed, 378 insertions(+)
create mode 100644 rust/helpers/list.c
create mode 100644 rust/kernel/interop/list.rs
create mode 100644 rust/kernel/interop/mod.rs

diff --git a/MAINTAINERS b/MAINTAINERS
index 4bd6b538a51f..e847099efcc2 100644
--- a/MAINTAINERS
+++ b/MAINTAINERS
@@ -23251,6 +23251,14 @@ T: git https://github.com/Rust-for-Linux/linux.git alloc-next
F: rust/kernel/alloc.rs
F: rust/kernel/alloc/

+RUST [INTEROP]
+M: Joel Fernandes <joelagnelf@nvidia.com>
+M: Alexandre Courbot <acourbot@nvidia.com>
+L: rust-for-linux@vger.kernel.org
+S: Maintained
+T: git https://github.com/Rust-for-Linux/linux.git interop-next
+F: rust/kernel/interop/
+
RUST [NUM]
M: Alexandre Courbot <acourbot@nvidia.com>
R: Yury Norov <yury.norov@gmail.com>
diff --git a/rust/helpers/helpers.c b/rust/helpers/helpers.c
index a3c42e51f00a..724fcb8240ac 100644
--- a/rust/helpers/helpers.c
+++ b/rust/helpers/helpers.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
#include "io.c"
#include "jump_label.c"
#include "kunit.c"
+#include "list.c"
#include "maple_tree.c"
#include "mm.c"
#include "mutex.c"
diff --git a/rust/helpers/list.c b/rust/helpers/list.c
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..18095a5593c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rust/helpers/list.c
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+
+/*
+ * Helpers for C circular doubly linked list implementation.
+ */
+
+#include <linux/list.h>
+
+__rust_helper void rust_helper_INIT_LIST_HEAD(struct list_head *list)
+{
+ INIT_LIST_HEAD(list);
+}
+
+__rust_helper void rust_helper_list_add_tail(struct list_head *new, struct list_head *head)
+{
+ list_add_tail(new, head);
+}
diff --git a/rust/kernel/interop/list.rs b/rust/kernel/interop/list.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ae9692383462
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rust/kernel/interop/list.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,341 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+
+//! Rust interface for C doubly circular intrusive linked lists.
+//!
+//! This module provides Rust abstractions for iterating over C `list_head`-based
+//! linked lists. It should only be used for cases where C and Rust code share
+//! direct access to the same linked list through a C interop interface.
+//!
+//! Note: This *must not* be used by Rust components that just need a linked list
+//! primitive. Use [`kernel::list::List`] instead.
+//!
+//! # Examples
+//!
+//! ```
+//! use kernel::{
+//! bindings,
+//! interop::list::clist_create,
+//! types::Opaque,
+//! };
+//! # // Create test list with values (0, 10, 20) - normally done by C code but it is
+//! # // emulated here for doctests using the C bindings.
+//! # use core::mem::MaybeUninit;
+//! #
+//! # /// C struct with embedded `list_head` (typically will be allocated by C code).
+//! # #[repr(C)]
+//! # pub struct SampleItemC {
+//! # pub value: i32,
+//! # pub link: bindings::list_head,
+//! # }
+//! #
+//! # let mut head = MaybeUninit::<bindings::list_head>::uninit();
+//! #
+//! # let head = head.as_mut_ptr();
+//! # // SAFETY: `head` and all the items are test objects allocated in this scope.
+//! # unsafe { bindings::INIT_LIST_HEAD(head) };
+//! #
+//! # let mut items = [
+//! # MaybeUninit::<SampleItemC>::uninit(),
+//! # MaybeUninit::<SampleItemC>::uninit(),
+//! # MaybeUninit::<SampleItemC>::uninit(),
+//! # ];
+//! #
+//! # for (i, item) in items.iter_mut().enumerate() {
+//! # let ptr = item.as_mut_ptr();
+//! # // SAFETY: `ptr` points to a valid `MaybeUninit<SampleItemC>`.
+//! # unsafe { (*ptr).value = i as i32 * 10 };
+//! # // SAFETY: `&raw mut` creates a pointer valid for `INIT_LIST_HEAD`.
+//! # unsafe { bindings::INIT_LIST_HEAD(&raw mut (*ptr).link) };
+//! # // SAFETY: `link` was just initialized and `head` is a valid list head.
+//! # unsafe { bindings::list_add_tail(&mut (*ptr).link, head) };
+//! # }
+//!
+//! //
+//! /// Rust wrapper for the C struct.
+//! ///
+//! /// The list item struct in this example is defined in C code as:
+//! ///
+//! /// ```c
+//! /// struct SampleItemC {
+//! /// int value;
+//! /// struct list_head link;
+//! /// };
+//! /// ```
+//! #[repr(transparent)]
+//! pub struct Item(Opaque<SampleItemC>);
+//!
+//! impl Item {
+//! pub fn value(&self) -> i32 {
+//! // SAFETY: `Item` has same layout as `SampleItemC`.
+//! unsafe { (*self.0.get()).value }
+//! }
+//! }
+//!
+//!
+//! // Create typed [`CList`] from sentinel head.
+//! // SAFETY: `head` is valid and initialized, items are `SampleItemC` with
+//! // embedded `link` field, and `Item` is `#[repr(transparent)]` over `SampleItemC`.
+//! let list = unsafe { clist_create!(head, Item, SampleItemC, link) };
+//!
+//! // Iterate directly over typed items.
+//! let mut found_0 = false;
+//! let mut found_10 = false;
+//! let mut found_20 = false;
+//!
+//! for item in list.iter() {
+//! let val = item.value();
+//! if val == 0 { found_0 = true; }
+//! if val == 10 { found_10 = true; }
+//! if val == 20 { found_20 = true; }
+//! }
+//!
+//! assert!(found_0 && found_10 && found_20);
+//! ```
+
+use core::{
+ iter::FusedIterator,
+ marker::PhantomData, //
+};
+
+use crate::{
+ bindings,
+ types::Opaque, //
+};
+
+use pin_init::{
+ pin_data,
+ pin_init,
+ PinInit, //
+};
+
+/// FFI wrapper for a C `list_head` object used in intrusive linked lists.
+///
+/// # Invariants
+///
+/// - The underlying `list_head` is initialized with valid non-`NULL` `next`/`prev` pointers.
+#[pin_data]
+#[repr(transparent)]
+pub struct CListHead {
+ #[pin]
+ inner: Opaque<bindings::list_head>,
+}
+
+impl CListHead {
+ /// Create a `&CListHead` reference from a raw `list_head` pointer.
+ ///
+ /// # Safety
+ ///
+ /// - `ptr` must be a valid pointer to an initialized `list_head` (e.g. via
+ /// `INIT_LIST_HEAD()`), with valid non-`NULL` `next`/`prev` pointers.
+ /// - `ptr` must remain valid for the lifetime `'a`.
+ /// - The list and all linked `list_head` nodes must not be modified from
+ /// anywhere for the lifetime `'a`, unless done so via any [`CListHead`] APIs.
+ #[inline]
+ pub unsafe fn from_raw<'a>(ptr: *mut bindings::list_head) -> &'a Self {
+ // SAFETY:
+ // - `CListHead` has same layout as `list_head`.
+ // - `ptr` is valid and unmodified for `'a` per caller guarantees.
+ unsafe { &*ptr.cast() }
+ }
+
+ /// Get the raw `list_head` pointer.
+ #[inline]
+ pub fn as_raw(&self) -> *mut bindings::list_head {
+ self.inner.get()
+ }
+
+ /// Get the next [`CListHead`] in the list.
+ #[inline]
+ pub fn next(&self) -> &Self {
+ let raw = self.as_raw();
+ // SAFETY:
+ // - `self.as_raw()` is valid and initialized per type invariants.
+ // - The `next` pointer is valid and non-`NULL` per type invariants
+ // (initialized via `INIT_LIST_HEAD()` or equivalent).
+ unsafe { Self::from_raw((*raw).next) }
+ }
+
+ /// Check if this node is linked in a list (not isolated).
+ #[inline]
+ pub fn is_linked(&self) -> bool {
+ let raw = self.as_raw();
+ // SAFETY: `self.as_raw()` is valid per type invariants.
+ unsafe { (*raw).next != raw && (*raw).prev != raw }
+ }
+
+ /// Pin-initializer that initializes the list head.
+ pub fn new() -> impl PinInit<Self> {
+ pin_init!(Self {
+ // SAFETY: `INIT_LIST_HEAD` initializes `slot` to a valid empty list.
+ inner <- Opaque::ffi_init(|slot| unsafe { bindings::INIT_LIST_HEAD(slot) }),
+ })
+ }
+}
+
+// SAFETY: `list_head` contains no thread-bound state; it only holds
+// `next`/`prev` pointers.
+unsafe impl Send for CListHead {}
+
+// SAFETY: `CListHead` can be shared among threads as modifications are
+// not allowed at the moment.
+unsafe impl Sync for CListHead {}
+
+impl PartialEq for CListHead {
+ #[inline]
+ fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
+ core::ptr::eq(self, other)
+ }
+}
+
+impl Eq for CListHead {}
+
+/// Low-level iterator over `list_head` nodes.
+///
+/// An iterator used to iterate over a C intrusive linked list (`list_head`). Caller has to
+/// perform conversion of returned [`CListHead`] to an item (using [`container_of`] or similar).
+///
+/// # Invariants
+///
+/// `current` and `sentinel` are valid references into an initialized linked list.
+struct CListHeadIter<'a> {
+ /// Current position in the list.
+ current: &'a CListHead,
+ /// The sentinel head (used to detect end of iteration).
+ sentinel: &'a CListHead,
+}
+
+impl<'a> Iterator for CListHeadIter<'a> {
+ type Item = &'a CListHead;
+
+ #[inline]
+ fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
+ // Check if we've reached the sentinel (end of list).
+ if self.current == self.sentinel {
+ return None;
+ }
+
+ let item = self.current;
+ self.current = item.next();
+ Some(item)
+ }
+}
+
+impl<'a> FusedIterator for CListHeadIter<'a> {}
+
+/// A typed C linked list with a sentinel head intended for FFI use-cases where
+/// C subsystem manages a linked list that Rust code needs to read. Generally
+/// required only for special cases.
+///
+/// A sentinel head [`CListHead`] represents the entire linked list and can be used
+/// for iteration over items of type `T`, it is not associated with a specific item.
+///
+/// The const generic `OFFSET` specifies the byte offset of the `list_head` field within
+/// the struct that `T` wraps.
+///
+/// # Invariants
+///
+/// - The sentinel [`CListHead`] has valid non-`NULL` `next`/`prev` pointers.
+/// - `OFFSET` is the byte offset of the `list_head` field within the struct that `T` wraps.
+/// - All the list's `list_head` nodes have valid non-`NULL` `next`/`prev` pointers.
+#[repr(transparent)]
+pub struct CList<T, const OFFSET: usize>(CListHead, PhantomData<T>);
+
+impl<T, const OFFSET: usize> CList<T, OFFSET> {
+ /// Create a typed [`CList`] reference from a raw sentinel `list_head` pointer.
+ ///
+ /// # Safety
+ ///
+ /// - `ptr` must be a valid pointer to an initialized sentinel `list_head` (e.g. via
+ /// `INIT_LIST_HEAD()`), with valid non-`NULL` `next`/`prev` pointers.
+ /// - `ptr` must remain valid for the lifetime `'a`.
+ /// - The list and all linked nodes must not be concurrently modified for the lifetime `'a`.
+ /// - The list must contain items where the `list_head` field is at byte offset `OFFSET`.
+ /// - `T` must be `#[repr(transparent)]` over the C struct.
+ #[inline]
+ pub unsafe fn from_raw<'a>(ptr: *mut bindings::list_head) -> &'a Self {
+ // SAFETY:
+ // - `CList` has same layout as `CListHead` due to `#[repr(transparent)]`.
+ // - Caller guarantees `ptr` is a valid, sentinel `list_head` object.
+ unsafe { &*ptr.cast() }
+ }
+
+ /// Check if the list is empty.
+ #[inline]
+ pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
+ !self.0.is_linked()
+ }
+
+ /// Create an iterator over typed items.
+ #[inline]
+ pub fn iter(&self) -> CListIter<'_, T, OFFSET> {
+ let head = &self.0;
+ CListIter {
+ head_iter: CListHeadIter {
+ current: head.next(),
+ sentinel: head,
+ },
+ _phantom: PhantomData,
+ }
+ }
+}
+
+/// High-level iterator over typed list items.
+pub struct CListIter<'a, T, const OFFSET: usize> {
+ head_iter: CListHeadIter<'a>,
+ _phantom: PhantomData<&'a T>,
+}
+
+impl<'a, T, const OFFSET: usize> Iterator for CListIter<'a, T, OFFSET> {
+ type Item = &'a T;
+
+ #[inline]
+ fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
+ let head = self.head_iter.next()?;
+
+ // Convert to item using `OFFSET`.
+ //
+ // SAFETY: The pointer calculation is valid because `OFFSET` is derived
+ // from `offset_of!` per type invariants.
+ Some(unsafe { &*head.as_raw().byte_sub(OFFSET).cast::<T>() })
+ }
+}
+
+impl<'a, T, const OFFSET: usize> FusedIterator for CListIter<'a, T, OFFSET> {}
+
+/// Create a C doubly-circular linked list interface [`CList`] from a raw `list_head` pointer.
+///
+/// This macro creates a `CList<T, OFFSET>` that can iterate over items of type `$rust_type`
+/// linked via the `$field` field in the underlying C struct `$c_type`.
+///
+/// # Arguments
+///
+/// - `$head`: Raw pointer to the sentinel `list_head` object (`*mut bindings::list_head`).
+/// - `$rust_type`: Each item's rust wrapper type.
+/// - `$c_type`: Each item's C struct type that contains the embedded `list_head`.
+/// - `$field`: The name of the `list_head` field within the C struct.
+///
+/// # Safety
+///
+/// The caller must ensure:
+///
+/// - `$head` is a valid, initialized sentinel `list_head` (e.g. via `INIT_LIST_HEAD()`)
+/// pointing to a list that is not concurrently modified for the lifetime of the [`CList`].
+/// - The list contains items of type `$c_type` linked via an embedded `$field`.
+/// - `$rust_type` is `#[repr(transparent)]` over `$c_type` or has compatible layout.
+///
+/// # Examples
+///
+/// Refer to the examples in the [`crate::interop::list`] module documentation.
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! clist_create {
+ ($head:expr, $rust_type:ty, $c_type:ty, $($field:tt).+) => {{
+ // Compile-time check that field path is a `list_head`.
+ let _: fn(*const $c_type) -> *const $crate::bindings::list_head =
+ |p| &raw const (*p).$($field).+;
+
+ // Calculate offset and create `CList`.
+ const OFFSET: usize = ::core::mem::offset_of!($c_type, $($field).+);
+ $crate::interop::list::CList::<$rust_type, OFFSET>::from_raw($head)
+ }};
+}
+pub use clist_create;
diff --git a/rust/kernel/interop/mod.rs b/rust/kernel/interop/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b88140cf76dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rust/kernel/interop/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+
+//! Infrastructure for interfacing Rust code with C kernel subsystems.
+//!
+//! This module is intended for low-level, unsafe Rust infrastructure code
+//! that interoperates between Rust and C. It is NOT for use directly in
+//! Rust drivers.
+
+pub mod list;
diff --git a/rust/kernel/lib.rs b/rust/kernel/lib.rs
index d93292d47420..bdcf632050ee 100644
--- a/rust/kernel/lib.rs
+++ b/rust/kernel/lib.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
#![feature(lint_reasons)]
//
// Stable since Rust 1.82.0.
+#![feature(offset_of_nested)]
#![feature(raw_ref_op)]
//
// Stable since Rust 1.83.0.
@@ -107,6 +108,7 @@
#[doc(hidden)]
pub mod impl_flags;
pub mod init;
+pub mod interop;
pub mod io;
pub mod ioctl;
pub mod iommu;
--
2.34.1