Re: [PATCH] watchdog: dw_wdt: remove build dependencies

[Wim Van Sebroeck <wim@iguana.be>]

Hi Baruch,

> > If this is ARM hardware, then this should have the dependency "depends on 
> > ARM".
> > Only if other architectures start using this watchdog device, then the 
> > "depends on ARM" can go.
> 
> Well, we intend to use this driver on Xtensa platform, does this count?

Xtensa is indeed another Platform, but then I expect the patch to:
1) make this clear in the Kconfig file
2) have a commit-message that also explains this.

> As a general rule wouldn't it be better to have the widest possible build 
> coverage, and encourage arch neutral driver coding?

We try to have as much arch neutral driver encoding (see the Kconfig & Makefile in the drivers/watchdog directory and you will see that we have drivers that are not depending on a specific hardware architecture), but we should not forget that certain hardware is only available in a certain architecture and that it thus does not make any sense to compile kernels with drivers that never will be used. So the general rule still is: use common sense and look at the broader picture.

Kind regards,
Wim.