[PATCH] dma-buf: Use EXPORT_SYMBOL

[Robert Morell]

On Wed, Oct 10, 2012 at 11:57:15PM -0700, Hans Verkuil wrote:
> On Wed October 10 2012 23:02:06 Rob Clark wrote:
> > On Wed, Oct 10, 2012 at 1:17 PM, Alan Cox <alan at lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk> wrote:
> > > On Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:56:32 -0700
> > > Robert Morell <rmorell at nvidia.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >> EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL is intended to be used for "an internal implementation
> > >> issue, and not really an interface".  The dma-buf infrastructure is
> > >> explicitly intended as an interface between modules/drivers, so it
> > >> should use EXPORT_SYMBOL instead.
> > >
> > > NAK. This needs at the very least the approval of all rights holders for
> > > the files concerned and all code exposed by this change.
> > 
> > Well, for my contributions to dmabuf, I don't object.. and I think
> > because we are planning to use dma-buf in userspace for dri3 /
> > dri-next, I think that basically makes it a userspace facing kernel
> > infrastructure which would be required for open and proprietary
> > drivers alike.  So I don't see much alternative to making this
> > EXPORT_SYMBOL().  Of course, IANAL.
> 
> The whole purpose of this API is to let DRM and V4L drivers share buffers for
> zero-copy pipelines. Unfortunately it is a fact that several popular DRM drivers
> are closed source. So we have a choice between keeping the export symbols GPL
> and forcing those closed-source drivers to make their own incompatible API,
> thus defeating the whole point of DMABUF, or using EXPORT_SYMBOL and letting
> the closed source vendors worry about the legality. They are already using such
> functions (at least nvidia is), so they clearly accept that risk.
> 
> I prefer the evil where the DMABUF API uses EXPORT_SYMBOL to prevent the worse
> evil where an incompatible API is created to work around the EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL
> limitation. Neither situation is paradise, but at least one is a slightly less
> depressing world than the other :-)
> 
> In other words, I'm OK with EXPORT_SYMBOL for whatever it is worth as I did not
> do any coding but only some initial design help and reviewing.

Thanks for the discussion.

My intention is not to steal any code from the kernel or change any licenses.
The goal here is to allow interoperation between drivers.  I understand that it
can be difficult to debug the kernel when the nvidia binary module is loaded;
I'm not trying to force anyone to do that.  You're free to continue to use your
debug environment without change after this patch is applied.

I believe that the developers and maintainers of dma-buf have provided
the needed signoff, both in person and in this thread.  If there are any
objections from that group, I'm happy to discuss any changes necessary to get
this merged.

- Robert