Re: [PATCH v5] mtd: support BB SRAM on ICP DAS LP-8x4x

[Brian Norris <computersforpeace@gmail.com>]

On Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 01:43:58PM +0300, Sergei Ianovich wrote:
> On Sat, 2015-12-19 at 21:38 -0600, Rob Herring wrote:
> > On Tue, Dec 15, 2015 at 09:58:53PM +0300, Sergei Ianovich wrote:
> > > +Required properties:
> > > +- compatible : should be "icpdas,sram-lp8x4x"
> > 
> > No wildcards please. Otherwise looks fine.
> 
> There is a similar review comment from Arnd Bergmann in the discussion
> of `[PATCH v5] serial: support for 16550A serial ports on LP-8x4x`.
> 
> I'll quote my latest clarification:
> > ... This driver will support ports on LP-8081, 

^^ So 8081 doesn't even match the wildcard scheme you give in the
compatible string, proving the point of the Conventional Wisdom
suggestion Rob gave...

> > LP-8141, LP-8441, LP-8841. Last time I checked the vendor was announcing
> > a series with 3 as the last digit. They use lp8x4x name, eg. in
> > documentation like `LP-8x4x_ChangeLog.txt`. They ship their proprietary
> > SDK in `lp8x4x_sdk_for_linux.tar`. All of this implies that it is a
> > single board.
> 
> I think the solution should be the same for all LP-8x4x drivers (IRQ,
> SRAM, SERIAL, IIO).

The rationale is described here:

http://devicetree.org/Device_Tree_Usage#Understanding_the_compatible_Property

Quote:
> Warning: Don't use wildcard compatible values, like "fsl,mpc83xx-uart"
> or similar. Silicon vendors will invariably make a change that breaks
> your wildcard assumptions the moment it is too late to change it.
> Instead, choose a specific silicon implementations and make all
> subsequent silicon compatible with it.

I don't think your circumstance is anything unique.

Regards,
Brian