Re: [RFC PATCH 1/5] firmware: Create firmware upload framework

[Greg KH <gregkh@linuxfoundation.org>]

On Wed, Nov 17, 2021 at 10:00:54AM -0800, Russ Weight wrote:
> 
> 
> On 11/17/21 7:15 AM, Greg KH wrote:
> > On Wed, Nov 10, 2021 at 05:13:41PM -0800, Russ Weight wrote:
> >> The Firmware Upload class driver provides a common API for uploading
> >> firmware files to devices.
> > That is exactly what the existing firmware api in the kernel is supposed
> > to be accomplishing.
> >
> > If it is not doing what you need it to do, then you need to document the
> > heck out of why it is not, and why you need a different api for this.  I
> > do not see that here in this changelog at all :(
> This is part of the documentation included later in this patch. I can add
> this to the changelog.
> 
> +Some devices load firmware from on-board FLASH when the card initializes.
> +These cards do not require the request_firmware framework to load the
> +firmware when the card boots, but they to require a utility to allow
> +users to update the FLASH contents.

There's no requirement that request_firmware only be done at boot time,
why not use it at any point in time?

> When you say "existing firmware api", I'm thinking request_firmware, which
> requires that driver names be specified in the kernel config and wants to
> load firmware automatically during device initialization.

It can be used at any time, why do you think it's restricted to init
time?

And I do not understand your issue with driver names.

> Other support under driver/firmware is specific to certain vendors, devices.
> 
> If I add this information to the changelog, is that sufficient?

Nope!