x86_64 usability bug: Kconfig prompt without help text (was Re: sata & scsi suggestion for make menuconfig)

Stefan Richter
2007-09-15T15:51:42Z

I take the liberty to modify the CC list.

Paul Rolland wrote:
> Stefan Richter <stefanr@s5r6.in-berlin.de> wrote:
>> I assert that a Kconfig prompt (a visible Kconfig variable) _without_
>> help text is a bug.
>
> Here is an example from 2.6.34-rc6 :
> .config - Linux Kernel v2.6.23-rc6 Configuration
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> +------------------------- Provide RTC interrupt -------------------------+
> | There is no help available for this kernel option. |
> | Symbol: HPET_EMULATE_RTC [=y] |
> | Prompt: Provide RTC interrupt |
> | Defined at arch/x86_64/Kconfig:471 |
> | Depends on: HPET_TIMER && RTC=y |
> | Location: |
> | -> Processor type and features |

The same prompt existed in arch/i386/Kconfig without help text too but
it was later made invisible and automatic by pre-2.6.13 patch "remove
special HPET_EMULATE_RTC config option", commit
c91096d85c95c6b7fe8d7065e2aa6825e0bdaca9: "We had a user whose apps
weren't working correctly because his "rtc" wasn't working fully. For
the sake of simplicity, it seems sensible to always enable HPET RTC
emulation."

- So, which criteria influence whether HPET_EMULATE_RTC should be
enabled on x86_64 or not?

- In case that there is no compelling reason to disable it if its
dependencies are satisfied, shouldn't it rather be invisible and
automatic like on i386?
--
Stefan Richter
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