Re: [PATCH v4 9/9] drm/bridge: tfp410: Add platform module alias

Sui Jingfeng
2024-04-23T10:12:32Z

Hi,

On 2024/4/23 16:05, Krzysztof Kozlowski wrote:
> On 22/04/2024 21:19, Sui Jingfeng wrote:
>> Otherwise when compiled as module, this driver will not be probed on
>> non-DT environment. This is a fundamential step to make this driver
>> truely OF-independent.
> NAK.

:( ...

>
> You should not need MODULE_ALIAS() in normal cases. If you need it,
> usually it means your device ID table is wrong (e.g. misses either
> entries or MODULE_DEVICE_TABLE()). MODULE_ALIAS() is not a substitute
> for incomplete ID table.

I think I could give you a reason.

1) When compile this driver into linux kernel

This driver will be probed if we create a platform device manually with the name "tfp410".
This is also true for the display-connector driver(drivers/gpu/drm/bridge/display-connector.c),
see patch 0005 of this series and the simple-bridge driver(drivers/gpu/drm/bridge/simple-bridge.c)
see patch 0003 of this series.

2) But when compile this driver as module, creating a platform device manually with the same name
*won't* make those platform driver probed. I think, this is *inconsistent behavior*. Therefore, I
add MODULE_ALIAS() to keep the behavior consistent. That is, a driver, should be able to be probed
regardless it is compile as a kernel module or it is built into the kernel.

> Just check your aliases and look what is there. You already have
> i2c:tfp410 alias.

Right, but the i2c:tfp410 alias only guarantee the driver can be probed successfully
when tfp410 working as I2C slave. tfp410 can also works as a transparent bridge.

> If you need platform one, for some reason, explain
> what is your matching path and add appropriate ID table. With that
> explanation, of course.

When tfp410 works as a transparent bridge. The device itself is just a platform device.
similar with the display-connector.c and simple-bridge.c.

It is not discoverable by the system on non-DT environment, this is the root problem.
I said the various display bridges drivers are fully DT dependent, Dimtry didn't agree!

He said "I can not agree here. It doesn't depend on DT." and then asks me to developing
some other solution witch could preserve code sharing. So here it is.

> Best regards,
> Krzysztof
>
--
Best regards,
Sui