[PATCH v3 0/7] streamline_config.pl: fix: process configs set to "y"

David Hunter
2024-10-14T14:13:58Z

An assumption made in this script is that the config options do not need
to be processed because they will simply be in the new config file. This
assumption is incorrect.

Process the config entries set to "y" because those config entries might
have dependencies set to "m". If a config entry is set to "m" and is not
loaded directly into the machine, the script will currently turn off
that config entry; however, if that turned off config entry is a
dependency for a "y" option. that means the config entry set to "y"
will also be turned off later when the conf executive file is called.

Here is a model of the problem (arrows show dependency):

Original config file
Config_1 (m) <-- Config_2 (y)

Config_1 is not loaded in this example, so it is turned off.
After scripts/kconfig/streamline_config.pl, but before scripts/kconfig/conf
Config_1 (n) <-- Config_2 (y)

After scripts/kconfig/conf
Config_1 (n) <-- Config_2 (n)

It should also be noted that any module in the dependency chain will
also be turned off, even if that module is loaded directly onto the
computer. Here is an example:

Original config file
Config_1 (m) <-- Config_2 (y) <-- Config_3 (m)

Config_3 will be loaded in this example.
After scripts/kconfig/streamline_config.pl, but before scripts/kconfig/conf
Config_1 (n) <-- Config_2 (y) <-- Config_3 (m)

After scripts/kconfig/conf
Config_1 (n) <-- Config_2 (n) <-- Config_3 (n)

I discovered this problem when I ran "make localmodconfig" on a generic
Ubuntu config file. Many hardware devices were not recognized once the
kernel was installed and booted. Another way to reproduced the error I
had is to run "make localmodconfig" twice. The standard error might display
warnings that certain modules should be selected but no config files are
turned on that select that module.

With the changes in this series patch, all modules are loaded properly
and all of the hardware is loaded when the kernel is installed and
booted.

David Hunter (7):
streamline_config.pl: fix missing variable operator in debug print
streamline_config.pl: ensure all defaults are tracked
streamline_config.pl: remove prompt warnings for configs with defaults
streamline_config.pl: include tool to learn about a config option
streamline_config.pl: fix: implement choice for kconfigs
streamline_config.pl: process config options set to "y"
streamline_config.pl: check prompt for bool

---
V1: https://lore.kernel.org/all/20240913171205.22126-1-david.hunter.linux@gmail.com/

V2: https://lore.kernel.org/all/20240916142939.754911-1-david.hunter.linux@gmail.com/
- Put in subject.

V3:
- changed the order of patches
- removed a patch that was unneccessary
- added a patch for a debugging tool
---

scripts/kconfig/streamline_config.pl | 130 ++++++++++++++++++++++++---
1 file changed, 119 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-)

--
2.43.0