Re: [PATCH 3/9] vt: delete unneeded functions register_con_driver|take_over_console

[Peter Hurley <peter@hurleysoftware.com>]

On 05/08/2013 04:14 PM, Greg KH wrote:
> On Wed, May 08, 2013 at 03:56:49PM -0400, Peter Hurley wrote:
>> On 05/08/2013 02:13 PM, Wang YanQing wrote:
>>> Now there is no place use register_con_driver|take_over_console,
>>> and we can achieve their function with do_register_con_driver|
>>> do_take_over_console easily, so just delete them to reduce code duplication.
>>>
>>> Signed-off-by: Wang YanQing <udknight@gmail.com>
>>> ---
>>>   drivers/tty/vt/vt.c     | 45 ---------------------------------------------
>>>   include/linux/console.h |  2 --
>>>   2 files changed, 47 deletions(-)
>>>
>>> diff --git a/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c b/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c
>>> index fbd447b..852d470 100644
>>> --- a/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c
>>> +++ b/drivers/tty/vt/vt.c
>>> @@ -3576,26 +3576,6 @@ err:
>>>   	return retval;
>>>   }
>>>
>>> -/**
>>> - * register_con_driver - register console driver to console layer
>>> - * @csw: console driver
>>> - * @first: the first console to take over, minimum value is 0
>>> - * @last: the last console to take over, maximum value is MAX_NR_CONSOLES -1
>>> - *
>>> - * DESCRIPTION: This function registers a console driver which can later
>>> - * bind to a range of consoles specified by @first and @last. It will
>>> - * also initialize the console driver by calling con_startup().
>>> - */
>>> -int register_con_driver(const struct consw *csw, int first, int last)
>>> -{
>>> -	int retval;
>>> -
>>> -	console_lock();
>>> -	retval = do_register_con_driver(csw, first, last);
>>> -	console_unlock();
>>> -	return retval;
>>> -}
>>> -EXPORT_SYMBOL(register_con_driver);
>>
>> Maybe register_con_driver() should print a deprecated warning
>> for a release or two before we remove it.
>
> If there are no in-kernel users, why do we need to keep it around?

Well, it's not my position that we *need* to keep previously exported
symbols around, but I do think a release or two is enough of a
heads-up for out-of-tree drivers to transition.

That said, you're the maintainer, so I'll defer to your requirements
here.

Regards,
Peter Hurley