Re: [RFC: 2.6 patch] kernel/sys.c: remove unused exports

[Adrian Bunk <bunk@stusta.de>]

On Thu, Jun 29, 2006 at 12:44:00PM -0700, Andrew Morton wrote:
> On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 12:36:08 -0700
> Andrew Morton <akpm@osdl.org> wrote:
> 
> > On Thu, 29 Jun 2006 21:19:40 +0200
> > Adrian Bunk <bunk@stusta.de> wrote:
> > 
> > > This patch removes the following unused exports:
> > > - EXPORT_SYMBOL:
> > >   - in_egroup_p
> > > - EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL's:
> > >   - kernel_restart
> > >   - kernel_halt
> > 
> > Switch 'em to EXPORT_UNUSED_SYMBOL and I'll stop dropping your patches ;)
> > 
> 
> If doing this, I'd suggest it be done thusly:
> 
> EXPORT_UNUSED_SYMBOL(in_egroup_p);	/* June 2006 */
> 
> to aid later decision-making.

I had some bad experiences with following processes you suggest the 
doesn't remove the symbol immediately:

As you wanted me to do, I scheduled the EXPORT_SYMBOL(insert_resource) 
for removal on 2 May 2005 with both __deprecated_for_modules and an 
entry in feature-removal-schedule.txt with the target date April 2006.

On 11 Apr 2006, I sent the patch to implement this scheduled removal.

As of today, the latter patch is still stuck in -mm (which isn't better 
than having it dropped) although it's long overdue.

Do you understand why I distrust your "to aid later decision-making"?

Can you state publically "If there's still no in-kernel user after six 
months, the removal is automatically ACK'ed."?

cu
Adrian

-- 

       "Is there not promise of rain?" Ling Tan asked suddenly out
        of the darkness. There had been need of rain for many days.
       "Only a promise," Lao Er said.
                                       Pearl S. Buck - Dragon Seed