[PATCH v1 1/3] coding-style.rst: document BUG() and WARN() rules ("do not crash the kernel")

David Hildenbrand
2022-09-20T12:23:27Z

Linus notes [1] that the introduction of new code that uses VM_BUG_ON()
is just as bad as BUG_ON(), because it will crash the kernel on
distributions that enable CONFIG_DEBUG_VM (like Fedora):

VM_BUG_ON() has the exact same semantics as BUG_ON. It is literally
no different, the only difference is "we can make the code smaller
because these are less important". [2]

This resulted in a more generic discussion about usage of BUG() and
friends. While there might be corner cases that still deserve a BUG_ON(),
most BUG_ON() cases should simply use WARN_ON_ONCE() and implement a
recovery path if reasonable:

The only possible case where BUG_ON can validly be used is "I have
some fundamental data corruption and cannot possibly return an
error". [2]

As a very good approximation is the general rule:

"absolutely no new BUG_ON() calls _ever_" [2]

... not even if something really shouldn't ever happen and is merely for
documenting that an invariant always has to hold. However, there are sill
exceptions where BUG_ON() may be used:

If you have a "this is major internal corruption, there's no way we can
continue", then BUG_ON() is appropriate. [3]

There is only one good BUG_ON():

Now, that said, there is one very valid sub-form of BUG_ON():
BUILD_BUG_ON() is absolutely 100% fine. [2]

While WARN will also crash the machine with panic_on_warn set, that's
exactly to be expected:

So we have two very different cases: the "virtual machine with good
logging where a dead machine is fine" - use 'panic_on_warn'. And
the actual real hardware with real drivers, running real loads by
users. [4]

The basic idea is that warnings will similarly get reported by users
and be found during testing. However, in contrast to a BUG(), there is a
way to actually influence the expected behavior (e.g., panic_on_warn)
and to eventually keep the machine alive to extract some debug info.

Ingo notes that not all WARN_ON_ONCE cases need recovery. If we don't ever
expect this code to trigger in any case, recovery code is not really
helpful.

I'd prefer to keep all these warnings 'simple' - i.e. no attempted
recovery & control flow, unless we ever expect these to trigger.
[5]

There have been different rules floating around that were never properly
documented. Let's try to clarify.

[1] https://lkml.kernel.org/r/CAHk-=wiEAH+ojSpAgx_Ep=NKPWHU8AdO3V56BXcCsU97oYJ1EA@mail.gmail.com
[2] https://lore.kernel.org/r/CAHk-=wg40EAZofO16Eviaj7mfqDhZ2gVEbvfsMf6gYzspRjYvw@mail.gmail.com
[2] https://lkml.kernel.org/r/CAHk-=wit-DmhMfQErY29JSPjFgebx_Ld+pnerc4J2Ag990WwAA@mail.gmail.com
[4] https://lore.kernel.org/r/CAHk-=wgF7K2gSSpy=m_=K3Nov4zaceUX9puQf1TjkTJLA2XC_g@mail.gmail.com
[5] https://lore.kernel.org/r/YwIW+mVeZoTOxn%2F4@gmail.com

Signed-off-by: David Hildenbrand <david@redhat.com>
---
Documentation/process/coding-style.rst | 61 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 file changed, 61 insertions(+)

diff --git a/Documentation/process/coding-style.rst b/Documentation/process/coding-style.rst
index 03eb53fd029a..e05899cbfd49 100644
--- a/Documentation/process/coding-style.rst
+++ b/Documentation/process/coding-style.rst
@@ -1186,6 +1186,67 @@ expression used. For instance:
#endif /* CONFIG_SOMETHING */

+22) Do not crash the kernel
+---------------------------
+
+In general, it is not the kernel developer's decision to crash the kernel.
+
+Avoid panic()
+=============
+
+panic() should be used with care and primarily only during system boot.
+panic() is, for example, acceptable when running out of memory during boot and
+not being able to continue.
+
+Use WARN() rather than BUG()
+============================
+
+Do not add new code that uses any of the BUG() variants, such as BUG(),
+BUG_ON(), or VM_BUG_ON(). Instead, use a WARN*() variant, preferably
+WARN_ON_ONCE(), and possibly with recovery code. Recovery code is not
+required if there is no reasonable way to at least partially recover.
+
+"I'm too lazy to do error handling" is not an excuse for using BUG(). Major
+internal corruptions with no way of continuing may still use BUG(), but need
+good justification.
+
+Use WARN_ON_ONCE() rather than WARN() or WARN_ON()
+**************************************************
+
+WARN_ON_ONCE() is generally preferred over WARN() or WARN_ON(), because it
+is common for a given warning condition, if it occurs at all, to occur
+multiple times. This can fill up and wrap the kernel log, and can even slow
+the system enough that the excessive logging turns into its own, additional
+problem.
+
+Do not WARN lightly
+*******************
+
+WARN*() is intended for unexpected, this-should-never-happen situations.
+WARN*() macros are not to be used for anything that is expected to happen
+during normal operation. These are not pre- or post-condition asserts, for
+example. Again: WARN*() must not be used for a condition that is expected
+to trigger easily, for example, by user space actions. pr_warn_once() is a
+possible alternative, if you need to notify the user of a problem.
+
+Do not worry about panic_on_warn users
+**************************************
+
+A few more words about panic_on_warn: Remember that ``panic_on_warn`` is an
+available kernel option, and that many users set this option. This is why
+there is a "Do not WARN lightly" writeup, above. However, the existence of
+panic_on_warn users is not a valid reason to avoid the judicious use
+WARN*(). That is because, whoever enables panic_on_warn has explicitly
+asked the kernel to crash if a WARN*() fires, and such users must be
+prepared to deal with the consequences of a system that is somewhat more
+likely to crash.
+
+Use BUILD_BUG_ON() for compile-time assertions
+**********************************************
+
+The use of BUILD_BUG_ON() is acceptable and encouraged, because it is a
+compile-time assertion that has no effect at runtime.
+
Appendix I) References
----------------------

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2.37.3