[PATCH v2 0/5] printk: add macros to simplify handling struct va_format

Andrzej Hajda
2025-12-01T09:33:35Z

This patchset contains patch abstracting out most common bits of va_format uses
into small macro. The macro works as a forwarder of variadic args to va_format
call.
Rough estimates based on dirty cocci script suggests about 180-230 users
could be converted, allowing to remove about 1100-1300 lines of code.
Of course, I do not plan to do it in mass. I just provide few patches to
show the usage and the potential.

Provided helper deals with variadic args to va_format conversion/forwarding.
Similar solution could be proposed also for variadic args to va_list conversion.
Common code:
va_list args;
va_start(args, fmt);
ret = func(..., fmt, args);
va_end(args);
return ret;
Could be replaced with:
ret = va_list_call(fmt, func, ..., fmt);
This is less rewarding (less lines to remove) but still looks promising. Also
separate helper should be created for functions without return value,
unless somebody knows trick how to do it in one macro:
va_list_void_call(fmt, func, ..., fmt);
Any comments?

Signed-off-by: Andrzej Hajda <andrzej.hajda@intel.com>
---
Changes in v2:
- added two patches simplifying handling of variadic args in drivers/core and mm
in slightly less obvious cases, this way both mm and drivers/core do not use
anymore hand rolled variadic -> va_format conversions.
- Link to v1: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20251126-va_format_call-v1-0-8a604a331730@intel.com

---
Andrzej Hajda (5):
printk: add macros to simplify handling struct va_format
drivers/core: use va_format_call helper
drivers/core: simplify variadic args handling
mm: use va_format_call helper
mm: simplify variadic args handling

drivers/base/core.c | 82 ++++++++------------------------------------------
include/linux/printk.h | 30 ++++++++++++++++++
mm/page_alloc.c | 14 +++------
mm/slub.c | 33 +++-----------------
4 files changed, 52 insertions(+), 107 deletions(-)
---
base-commit: 37a098cc87aafdf4de147851cbf350bb66c51b45
change-id: 20251126-va_format_call-41053ef60fd7

Best regards,
--
Andrzej Hajda <andrzej.hajda@intel.com>