[PATCH] firmware: sysfb: Mark CONFIG_SYSFB_SIMPLEFB as deprecated

[PATCH] firmware: sysfb: Mark CONFIG_SYSFB_SIMPLEFB as deprecated

[Thomas Zimmermann]

Mark CONFIG_SYSFB_SIMPLEFB as deprecated. Enabling it allows to
run simpledrm and simplefb on EFI/VESA framebuffers. Doing this
is discouraged in favor of using efidrm and vesadrm.

Signed-off-by: Thomas Zimmermann <tzimmermann@suse.de>
---
 drivers/firmware/Kconfig | 33 ++++++++++++---------------------
 1 file changed, 12 insertions(+), 21 deletions(-)

diff --git a/drivers/firmware/Kconfig b/drivers/firmware/Kconfig
index bbd2155d8483..b4e705abdc8f 100644
--- a/drivers/firmware/Kconfig
+++ b/drivers/firmware/Kconfig
@@ -184,32 +184,23 @@ config SYSFB
 	select SCREEN_INFO
 
 config SYSFB_SIMPLEFB
-	bool "Mark VGA/VBE/EFI FB as generic system framebuffer"
+	bool "Mark VGA/VBE/EFI FB as generic system framebuffer (deprecated)"
 	depends on X86 || EFI
 	select SYSFB
 	help
 	  Firmwares often provide initial graphics framebuffers so the BIOS,
 	  bootloader or kernel can show basic video-output during boot for
-	  user-guidance and debugging. Historically, x86 used the VESA BIOS
-	  Extensions and EFI-framebuffers for this, which are mostly limited
-	  to x86 BIOS or EFI systems.
-	  This option, if enabled, marks VGA/VBE/EFI framebuffers as generic
-	  framebuffers so the new generic system-framebuffer drivers can be
-	  used instead. If the framebuffer is not compatible with the generic
-	  modes, it is advertised as fallback platform framebuffer so legacy
-	  drivers like efifb, vesafb and uvesafb can pick it up.
-	  If this option is not selected, all system framebuffers are always
-	  marked as fallback platform framebuffers as usual.
-
-	  Note: Legacy fbdev drivers, including vesafb, efifb, uvesafb, will
-	  not be able to pick up generic system framebuffers if this option
-	  is selected. You are highly encouraged to enable simplefb as
-	  replacement if you select this option. simplefb can correctly deal
-	  with generic system framebuffers. But you should still keep vesafb
-	  and others enabled as fallback if a system framebuffer is
-	  incompatible with simplefb.
-
-	  If unsure, say Y.
+	  user-guidance and debugging.
+
+	  This option, if enabled, marks VBE/EFI framebuffers as system
+	  framebuffers so the generic simpledrm driver can be used. If the
+	  framebuffer is not compatible with the generic modes, it is
+	  advertised as fallback platform framebuffer so regular drivers like
+	  efidrm, vesadrm can pick it up.
+
+	  This option is deprecated and will be removed in the near future. If
+	  unsure, say N and select efidrm, vesadrm instead. The dedicated DRM
+	  drivers provide the same functionality plus additional features.
 
 config TH1520_AON_PROTOCOL
 	tristate "Always-On firmware protocol"
-- 
2.54.0

Re: [PATCH] firmware: sysfb: Mark CONFIG_SYSFB_SIMPLEFB as deprecated

[Javier Martinez Canillas]

Thomas Zimmermann <tzimmermann@suse.de> writes:

Hello Thomas,

Thanks for the patch.

> Mark CONFIG_SYSFB_SIMPLEFB as deprecated. Enabling it allows to
> run simpledrm and simplefb on EFI/VESA framebuffers. Doing this
> is discouraged in favor of using efidrm and vesadrm.
>
> Signed-off-by: Thomas Zimmermann <tzimmermann@suse.de>
> ---

Reviewed-by: Javier Martinez Canillas <javierm@redhat.com>

Do you know what the policy is for removal? For example,
how many Linux releases should we wait for this to go away?

-- 
Best regards,

Javier Martinez Canillas
Core Platforms
Red Hat

Re: [PATCH] firmware: sysfb: Mark CONFIG_SYSFB_SIMPLEFB as deprecated

[Thomas Zimmermann]

Hi

Am 17.06.26 um 10:46 schrieb Javier Martinez Canillas:
> Thomas Zimmermann <tzimmermann@suse.de> writes:
>
> Hello Thomas,
>
> Thanks for the patch.
>
>> Mark CONFIG_SYSFB_SIMPLEFB as deprecated. Enabling it allows to
>> run simpledrm and simplefb on EFI/VESA framebuffers. Doing this
>> is discouraged in favor of using efidrm and vesadrm.
>>
>> Signed-off-by: Thomas Zimmermann <tzimmermann@suse.de>
>> ---
> Reviewed-by: Javier Martinez Canillas <javierm@redhat.com>

Thanks. The sashiko bot detected some inconsistencies in the docs, so 
there will be a v2 of this patch.

>
> Do you know what the policy is for removal? For example,
> how many Linux releases should we wait for this to go away?

IDK. I'd wait for 2 or 3 releases after this lands and then remove it. 
It's a small change with a clear upgrade patch after all.

Best regards
Thomas

>

-- 
--
Thomas Zimmermann
Graphics Driver Developer
SUSE Software Solutions Germany GmbH
Frankenstr. 146, 90461 Nürnberg, Germany, www.suse.com
GF: Jochen Jaser, Andrew McDonald, Werner Knoblich, (HRB 36809, AG Nürnberg)

Re: [PATCH] firmware: sysfb: Mark CONFIG_SYSFB_SIMPLEFB as deprecated

[Julian Braha]

Hi Thomas,

On 6/17/26 09:17, Thomas Zimmermann wrote:
> Mark CONFIG_SYSFB_SIMPLEFB as deprecated. Enabling it allows to

>  config SYSFB_SIMPLEFB
> -	bool "Mark VGA/VBE/EFI FB as generic system framebuffer"
> +	bool "Mark VGA/VBE/EFI FB as generic system framebuffer (deprecated)"

In v2, I think it also makes sense to add the 'transitional' attribute
to the Kconfig entry to help phase it out.

Also see this patch message for an explanation of 'transitional':
https://lore.kernel.org/all/20250923213422.1105654-2-kees@kernel.org/

- Julian Braha