Re: [PATCH v3] rust: clist: Add support to interface with C linked lists

Alice Ryhl
2025-12-01T15:25:48Z

On Sat, Nov 29, 2025 at 04:30:56PM -0500, Joel Fernandes wrote:
> Add a new module `clist` for working with C's doubly circular linked
> lists. Provide low-level iteration over list_head nodes and high-level
> iteration over typed list items.
>
> Provide a `clist_create` macro to assist in creation of the `Clist` type.
>
> Signed-off-by: Joel Fernandes <joelagnelf@nvidia.com>
> ---
> Thanks to Alex, Daniel, Danilo, John, and Miguel for reviewing v1/v2!
>
> Changes since v2:
> - Squashed the 3 patches into a single patch due to dependencies and reducing helpers.
> - Changed Clist to Clist<'a, T> using const generic offset (Alex).
> - Simplified C helpers to only list_add_tail (Alex, John).
> - Added init_list_head() for INIT_LIST_HEAD functionality and dropped it from C helpers (Alex).
> - Added FusedIterator impl for both ClistHeadIter and ClistIter.
> - Added PartialEq/Eq for ClistHead (Alex)
> - Rust style improvements, comment improvements (Daniel).
> - Added MAINTAINERS entry (Miguel).
>
> Link to v2: https://lore.kernel.org/all/20251111171315.2196103-2-joelagnelf@nvidia.com/
> Link to v1 (RFC): https://lore.kernel.org/all/20251030190613.1224287-2-joelagnelf@nvidia.com/
>
> MAINTAINERS | 7 +
> rust/helpers/helpers.c | 1 +
> rust/helpers/list.c | 12 ++
> rust/kernel/clist.rs | 349 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> rust/kernel/lib.rs | 1 +
> 5 files changed, 370 insertions(+)
> create mode 100644 rust/helpers/list.c
> create mode 100644 rust/kernel/clist.rs
>
> diff --git a/MAINTAINERS b/MAINTAINERS
> index 5f7aa6a8a9a1..fb2ff877b6d1 100644
> --- a/MAINTAINERS
> +++ b/MAINTAINERS
> @@ -22666,6 +22666,13 @@ F: rust/kernel/init.rs
> F: rust/pin-init/
> K: \bpin-init\b|pin_init\b|PinInit
>
> +RUST TO C LIST INTERFACES
> +M: Joel Fernandes <joelagnelf@nvidia.com>
> +M: Alexandre Courbot <acourbot@nvidia.com>
> +L: rust-for-linux@vger.kernel.org
> +S: Maintained
> +F: rust/kernel/clist.rs
> +
> RXRPC SOCKETS (AF_RXRPC)
> M: David Howells <dhowells@redhat.com>
> M: Marc Dionne <marc.dionne@auristor.com>
> diff --git a/rust/helpers/helpers.c b/rust/helpers/helpers.c
> index 79c72762ad9c..634fa2386bbb 100644
> --- a/rust/helpers/helpers.c
> +++ b/rust/helpers/helpers.c
> @@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
> #include "io.c"
> #include "jump_label.c"
> #include "kunit.c"
> +#include "list.c"
> #include "maple_tree.c"
> #include "mm.c"
> #include "mutex.c"
> diff --git a/rust/helpers/list.c b/rust/helpers/list.c
> new file mode 100644
> index 000000000000..6044979c7a2e
> --- /dev/null
> +++ b/rust/helpers/list.c
> @@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
> +// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
> +
> +/*
> + * Helpers for C Circular doubly linked list implementation.
> + */
> +
> +#include <linux/list.h>
> +
> +void rust_helper_list_add_tail(struct list_head *new, struct list_head *head)
> +{
> + list_add_tail(new, head);
> +}
> diff --git a/rust/kernel/clist.rs b/rust/kernel/clist.rs
> new file mode 100644
> index 000000000000..361a6132299b
> --- /dev/null
> +++ b/rust/kernel/clist.rs
> @@ -0,0 +1,349 @@
> +// SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
> +
> +//! A C doubly circular intrusive linked list interface for rust code.
> +//!
> +//! # Examples
> +//!
> +//! ```
> +//! use kernel::{
> +//! bindings,
> +//! clist::init_list_head,
> +//! clist_create,
> +//! types::Opaque, //
> +//! };
> +//! # // Create test list with values (0, 10, 20) - normally done by C code but it is
> +//! # // emulated here for doctests using the C bindings.
> +//! # use core::mem::MaybeUninit;
> +//! #
> +//! # /// C struct with embedded `list_head` (typically will be allocated by C code).
> +//! # #[repr(C)]
> +//! # pub(crate) struct SampleItemC {
> +//! # pub value: i32,
> +//! # pub link: bindings::list_head,
> +//! # }
> +//! #
> +//! # let mut head = MaybeUninit::<bindings::list_head>::uninit();
> +//! #
> +//! # // SAFETY: head and all the items are test objects allocated in this scope.
> +//! # unsafe { init_list_head(head.as_mut_ptr()) };
> +//! # // SAFETY: head is a test object allocated in this scope.
> +//! # let mut head = unsafe { head.assume_init() };
> +//! # let mut items = [
> +//! # MaybeUninit::<SampleItemC>::uninit(),
> +//! # MaybeUninit::<SampleItemC>::uninit(),
> +//! # MaybeUninit::<SampleItemC>::uninit(),
> +//! # ];
> +//! #
> +//! # for (i, item) in items.iter_mut().enumerate() {
> +//! # let ptr = item.as_mut_ptr();
> +//! # // SAFETY: pointers are to allocated test objects with a list_head field.
> +//! # unsafe {
> +//! # (*ptr).value = i as i32 * 10;
> +//! # // addr_of_mut!() computes address of link directly as link is uninitialized.
> +//! # init_list_head(core::ptr::addr_of_mut!((*ptr).link));
> +//! # bindings::list_add_tail(&mut (*ptr).link, &mut head);
> +//! # }
> +//! # }
> +//!
> +//! // Rust wrapper for the C struct.
> +//! // The list item struct in this example is defined in C code as:
> +//! // struct SampleItemC {
> +//! // int value;
> +//! // struct list_head link;
> +//! // };
> +//! //
> +//! #[repr(transparent)]
> +//! pub(crate) struct Item(Opaque<SampleItemC>);
> +//!
> +//! impl Item {
> +//! pub(crate) fn value(&self) -> i32 {
> +//! // SAFETY: `Item` has same layout as `SampleItemC`.
> +//! unsafe { (*self.0.get()).value }
> +//! }
> +//! }
> +//!
> +//! // Create typed Clist from sentinel head.
> +//! // SAFETY: head is valid, items are `SampleItemC` with embedded `link` field.
> +//! let list = unsafe { clist_create!(&mut head, Item, SampleItemC, link) };
> +//!
> +//! // Iterate directly over typed items.
> +//! let mut found_0 = false;
> +//! let mut found_10 = false;
> +//! let mut found_20 = false;
> +//!
> +//! for item in list.iter() {
> +//! let val = item.value();
> +//! if val == 0 { found_0 = true; }
> +//! if val == 10 { found_10 = true; }
> +//! if val == 20 { found_20 = true; }
> +//! }
> +//!
> +//! assert!(found_0 && found_10 && found_20);
> +//! ```
> +
> +use core::{
> + iter::FusedIterator,
> + marker::PhantomData, //
> +};
> +
> +use crate::{
> + bindings,
> + types::Opaque, //
> +};
> +
> +/// Initialize a `list_head` object to point to itself.
> +///
> +/// # Safety
> +///
> +/// `list` must be a valid pointer to a `list_head` object.
> +#[inline]
> +pub unsafe fn init_list_head(list: *mut bindings::list_head) {
> + // SAFETY: Caller guarantees `list` is a valid pointer to a `list_head`.
> + unsafe {
> + (*list).next = list;
> + (*list).prev = list;
> + }
> +}

It may make sense to move such manual reimplementations into the
bindings crate so that other abstractions take advantage of them by
default when they write bindings::init_list_head.

Of course you can still have a re-export here.

> +/// Wraps a `list_head` object for use in intrusive linked lists.
> +///
> +/// # Invariants
> +///
> +/// - `ClistHead` represents an allocated and valid `list_head` structure.
> +///
> +/// # Safety
> +///
> +/// - All `list_head` nodes must not be modified by C code for the lifetime of `ClistHead`.

So if I modify the list from Rust code, it's okay?

I think the actual requirement you want is just that nobody modifies it.

> +#[repr(transparent)]
> +pub struct ClistHead(Opaque<bindings::list_head>);
> +
> +impl ClistHead {
> + /// Create a `&ClistHead` reference from a raw `list_head` pointer.
> + ///
> + /// # Safety
> + ///
> + /// - `ptr` must be a valid pointer to an allocated and initialized `list_head` structure.
> + /// - `ptr` must remain valid and unmodified for the lifetime `'a`.
> + #[inline]
> + pub unsafe fn from_raw<'a>(ptr: *mut bindings::list_head) -> &'a Self {
> + // SAFETY:
> + // - `ClistHead` has same layout as `list_head`.
> + // - `ptr` is valid and unmodified for 'a.
> + unsafe { &*ptr.cast() }
> + }
> +
> + /// Get the raw `list_head` pointer.
> + #[inline]
> + pub fn as_raw(&self) -> *mut bindings::list_head {
> + self.0.get()
> + }
> +
> + /// Get the next `ClistHead` in the list.
> + #[inline]
> + pub fn next(&self) -> &Self {
> + let raw = self.as_raw();
> + // SAFETY:
> + // - `self.as_raw()` is valid per type invariants.
> + // - The `next` pointer is guaranteed to be non-NULL.
> + unsafe { Self::from_raw((*raw).next) }
> + }
> +
> + /// Get the previous `ClistHead` in the list.
> + #[inline]
> + pub fn prev(&self) -> &Self {
> + let raw = self.as_raw();
> + // SAFETY:
> + // - self.as_raw() is valid per type invariants.
> + // - The `prev` pointer is guaranteed to be non-NULL.
> + unsafe { Self::from_raw((*raw).prev) }
> + }
> +
> + /// Check if this node is linked in a list (not isolated).
> + #[inline]
> + pub fn is_linked(&self) -> bool {
> + let raw = self.as_raw();
> + // SAFETY: self.as_raw() is valid per type invariants.
> + unsafe { (*raw).next != raw && (*raw).prev != raw }
> + }
> +}
> +
> +// SAFETY: `ClistHead` can be sent to any thread.
> +unsafe impl Send for ClistHead {}
> +
> +// SAFETY: `ClistHead` can be shared among threads as it is not modified by C per type invariants.
> +unsafe impl Sync for ClistHead {}
> +
> +impl PartialEq for ClistHead {
> + fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
> + self.as_raw() == other.as_raw()
> + }
> +}
> +
> +impl Eq for ClistHead {}
> +
> +/// Low-level iterator over `list_head` nodes.
> +///
> +/// An iterator used to iterate over a C intrusive linked list (`list_head`). Caller has to
> +/// perform conversion of returned `ClistHead` to an item (using `container_of` macro or similar).
> +///
> +/// # Invariants
> +///
> +/// `ClistHeadIter` is iterating over an allocated, initialized and valid list.
> +struct ClistHeadIter<'a> {
> + current_head: &'a ClistHead,
> + list_head: &'a ClistHead,
> + exhausted: bool,
> +}
> +
> +impl<'a> Iterator for ClistHeadIter<'a> {
> + type Item = &'a ClistHead;
> +
> + #[inline]
> + fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
> + if self.exhausted {
> + return None;
> + }
> +
> + // Advance to next node.
> + self.current_head = self.current_head.next();
> +
> + // Check if we've circled back to the sentinel head.
> + if self.current_head == self.list_head {
> + self.exhausted = true;
> + return None;
> + }
> +
> + Some(self.current_head)
> + }
> +}
> +
> +impl<'a> FusedIterator for ClistHeadIter<'a> {}
> +
> +/// A typed C linked list with a sentinel head.
> +///
> +/// A sentinel head represents the entire linked list and can be used for
> +/// iteration over items of type `T`, it is not associated with a specific item.
> +///
> +/// # Invariants
> +///
> +/// - `head` is an allocated and valid C `list_head` structure that is the list's sentinel.
> +/// - `offset` is the byte offset of the `list_head` field within the C struct that `T` wraps.
> +///
> +/// # Safety
> +///
> +/// - All the list's `list_head` nodes must be allocated and have valid next/prev pointers.
> +/// - The underlying `list_head` (and entire list) must not be modified by C for the
> +/// lifetime 'a of `Clist`.

Here and elsewhere: We don't generally have Safety sections on structs.
It looks like these should just be invariants.

> +pub struct Clist<'a, T> {
> + head: &'a ClistHead,
> + offset: usize,
> + _phantom: PhantomData<&'a T>,
> +}
> +
> +impl<'a, T> Clist<'a, T> {
> + /// Create a typed `Clist` from a raw sentinel `list_head` pointer.
> + ///
> + /// The const generic `OFFSET` specifies the byte offset of the `list_head` field within
> + /// the C struct that `T` wraps.
> + ///
> + /// # Safety
> + ///
> + /// - `ptr` must be a valid pointer to an allocated and initialized `list_head` structure
> + /// representing a list sentinel.
> + /// - `ptr` must remain valid and unmodified for the lifetime `'a`.
> + /// - The list must contain items where the `list_head` field is at byte offset `OFFSET`.
> + /// - `T` must be `#[repr(transparent)]` over the C struct.
> + #[inline]
> + pub unsafe fn from_raw_and_offset<const OFFSET: usize>(ptr: *mut bindings::list_head) -> Self {

I think OFFSET should probably be a constant on the struct rather than a
field.

> + Self {
> + // SAFETY: Caller guarantees `ptr` is a valid, sentinel `list_head` object.
> + head: unsafe { ClistHead::from_raw(ptr) },
> + offset: OFFSET,
> + _phantom: PhantomData,
> + }
> + }
> +
> + /// Get the raw sentinel `list_head` pointer.
> + #[inline]
> + pub fn as_raw(&self) -> *mut bindings::list_head {
> + self.head.as_raw()
> + }
> +
> + /// Check if the list is empty.
> + #[inline]
> + pub fn is_empty(&self) -> bool {
> + let raw = self.as_raw();
> + // SAFETY: self.as_raw() is valid per type invariants.
> + unsafe { (*raw).next == raw }
> + }
> +
> + /// Create an iterator over typed items.
> + #[inline]
> + pub fn iter(&self) -> ClistIter<'a, T> {
> + ClistIter {
> + head_iter: ClistHeadIter {
> + current_head: self.head,
> + list_head: self.head,
> + exhausted: false,
> + },
> + offset: self.offset,
> + _phantom: PhantomData,
> + }
> + }
> +}
> +
> +/// High-level iterator over typed list items.
> +pub struct ClistIter<'a, T> {
> + head_iter: ClistHeadIter<'a>,
> + offset: usize,
> + _phantom: PhantomData<&'a T>,
> +}
> +
> +impl<'a, T> Iterator for ClistIter<'a, T> {
> + type Item = &'a T;
> +
> + fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
> + let head = self.head_iter.next()?;
> +
> + // Convert to item using offset.
> + // SAFETY:
> + // - `item_ptr` calculation from `offset` (calculated using offset_of!)
> + // is valid per invariants.
> + Some(unsafe { &*head.as_raw().cast::<u8>().sub(self.offset).cast::<T>() })

Can be simplified to:
head.as_raw().byte_sub(OFFSET).cast::<T>()

> + }
> +}
> +
> +impl<'a, T> FusedIterator for ClistIter<'a, T> {}
> +
> +/// Create a C doubly-circular linked list interface `Clist` from a raw `list_head` pointer.
> +///
> +/// This macro creates a `Clist<T>` that can iterate over items of type `$rust_type` linked
> +/// via the `$field` field in the underlying C struct `$c_type`.
> +///
> +/// # Arguments
> +///
> +/// - `$head`: Raw pointer to the sentinel `list_head` object (`*mut bindings::list_head`).
> +/// - `$rust_type`: Each item's rust wrapper type.
> +/// - `$c_type`: Each item's C struct type that contains the embedded `list_head`.
> +/// - `$field`: The name of the `list_head` field within the C struct.
> +///
> +/// # Safety
> +///
> +/// The caller must ensure:
> +/// - `$head` is a valid, initialized sentinel `list_head` pointing to a list that remains
> +/// unmodified for the lifetime of the rust `Clist`.
> +/// - The list contains items of type `$c_type` linked via an embedded `$field`.
> +/// - `$rust_type` is `#[repr(transparent)]` over `$c_type` or has compatible layout.
> +/// - The macro is called from an unsafe block.
> +///
> +/// # Examples
> +///
> +/// Refer to the examples in the [crate::clist] module documentation.
> +#[macro_export]
> +macro_rules! clist_create {
> + ($head:expr, $rust_type:ty, $c_type:ty, $field:ident) => {
> + $crate::clist::Clist::<$rust_type>::from_raw_and_offset::<
> + { ::core::mem::offset_of!($c_type, $field) },
> + >($head)
> + };
> +}
> diff --git a/rust/kernel/lib.rs b/rust/kernel/lib.rs
> index c2eea9a2a345..b69cc5ed3b59 100644
> --- a/rust/kernel/lib.rs
> +++ b/rust/kernel/lib.rs
> @@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
> pub mod bug;
> #[doc(hidden)]
> pub mod build_assert;
> +pub mod clist;
> pub mod clk;
> #[cfg(CONFIG_CONFIGFS_FS)]
> pub mod configfs;
> --
> 2.34.1
>