Re: [RFC][PATCH 03/12] digest_lists: Basic definitions

Greg KH
2021-06-28T08:46:27Z

On Mon, Jun 28, 2021 at 08:30:32AM +0000, Roberto Sassu wrote:
> > > +struct compact_list_hdr {
> > > + __u8 version;
> >
> > You should never need a version, that way lies madness.
>
> We wanted to have a way to switch to a new format, if necessary.

Then just add a new ioctl if you need that in the future, no need to try
to cram it into this one.

> > > + __le16 type;
> > > + __le16 modifiers;
> > > + __le16 algo;
> > > + __le32 count;
> > > + __le32 datalen;
> >
> > Why are user/kernel apis specified in little endian format? Why would
> > that matter? Shouldn't they just be "native" endian?
>
> I thought this would make it clear that the kernel always expects the
> digest lists to be in little endian.

Why would a big endian system expect the data from userspace to be in
little endian? Shouldn't this always just be "native" endian given that
this is not something that is being sent to hardware?

thanks,

greg k-h