On Wed, Jun 25, 2025 at 07:52:58PM -0700, Randy Dunlap wrote: > Hi, > > On 6/25/25 7:40 PM, alison.schofield@xxxxxxxxx wrote: > > From: Alison Schofield <alison.schofield@xxxxxxxxx> > > > > The KernelVersion field has limited practical value. Git history > > provides more accurate tracking of when features were introduced > > and target kernel versions often change during development and > > merge. > > > > Label it optional. > > > > Signed-off-by: Alison Schofield <alison.schofield@xxxxxxxxx> > > --- > > > > Plan B is to remove the field entirely. > > > > > > Documentation/ABI/README | 4 +++- > > 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) > > > > diff --git a/Documentation/ABI/README b/Documentation/ABI/README > > index ef0e6d11e919..315fffe1f831 100644 > > --- a/Documentation/ABI/README > > +++ b/Documentation/ABI/README > > @@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ Every file in these directories will contain the following information: > > > > What: Short description of the interface > > Date: Date created > > -KernelVersion: Kernel version this feature first showed up in. > > +KernelVersion: (Optional) Kernel version this feature first showed up in. > > + Note: git history often provides more accurate version > > + info, so this field may be omitted. > > ISTM that ABI files and git history have different users/audiences. > Sure, KernelVersion may be incorrect (but close?), but telling a "user" > that they should install git and clone linux.git to determine the kernel > version is a lot to ask -- and then they need git instructions for how to > look up the kernel version. Hi Randy, Thanks for the user viewpoint. As Dan mentioned, it was his feedback on my use of the field that inspired this. I poked around a bit to see if omitting was becoming common practice and found that in ABI/testing, 41% of the entries omit the KernelVersion field (1423 out of 3431), and it's the same 41% for all of ABI/. That led me to believe this field is already being treated as optional by kernel developers. I guess this is just shedding light on current practice. I have no insight into whether users are hollering about the missing KernelVersion fields. --Alison > > > Contact: Primary contact for this interface (may be a mailing list) > > Description: Long description of the interface and how to use it. > > Users: All users of this interface who wish to be notified when > > -- > ~Randy >
