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.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
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Submitting Devicetree (DT) binding patches
==========================================
I. For patch submitters
=======================
0) Normal patch submission rules from
Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst applies.
1) The Documentation/ and include/dt-bindings/ portion of the patch should
be a separate patch. The preferred subject prefix for binding patches is::
"dt-bindings: <binding dir>: ..."
The 80 characters of the subject are precious. It is recommended to not
use "Documentation" or "doc" because that is implied. All bindings are
docs. Repeating "binding" again should also be avoided.
2) DT binding files are written in DT schema format using json-schema
vocabulary and YAML file format. The DT binding files must pass validation
by running::
make dt_binding_check
See Documentation/devicetree/bindings/writing-schema.rst for more details
about schema and tools setup.
3) DT binding files should be dual licensed. The preferred license tag is
(GPL-2.0-only OR BSD-2-Clause).
4) Submit the entire series to the devicetree mailinglist at
devicetree@vger.kernel.org
and Cc: the DT maintainers. Use scripts/get_maintainer.pl to identify
all of the DT maintainers.
5) The Documentation/ portion of the patch should come in the series before
the code implementing the binding.
6) Any compatible strings used in a chip or board DTS file must be
previously documented in the corresponding DT binding text file
in Documentation/devicetree/bindings. This rule applies even if
the Linux device driver does not yet match on the compatible
string. [ checkpatch will emit warnings if this step is not
followed as of commit bff5da4335256513497cc8c79f9a9d1665e09864
("checkpatch: add DT compatible string documentation checks"). ]
7) The wildcard "<chip>" may be used in compatible strings, as in
the following example:
- compatible: Must contain '"nvidia,<chip>-pcie",
"nvidia,tegra20-pcie"' where <chip> is tegra30, tegra132, ...
As in the above example, the known values of "<chip>" should be
documented if it is used.
8) If a documented compatible string is not yet matched by the
driver, the documentation should also include a compatible
string that is matched by the driver (as in the "nvidia,tegra20-pcie"
example above).
9) Bindings are actively used by multiple projects other than the Linux
Kernel, extra care and consideration may need to be taken when making changes
to existing bindings.
II. For kernel maintainers
==========================
1) If you aren't comfortable reviewing a given binding, reply to it and ask
the devicetree maintainers for guidance. This will help them prioritize
which ones to review and which ones are ok to let go.
2) For driver (not subsystem) bindings: If you are comfortable with the
binding, and it hasn't received an Acked-by from the devicetree
maintainers after a few weeks, go ahead and take it.
For subsystem bindings (anything affecting more than a single device),
getting a devicetree maintainer to review it is required.
3) For a series going though multiple trees, the binding patch should be
kept with the driver using the binding.
III. Notes
==========
0) Please see Documentation/devicetree/bindings/ABI.rst for details
regarding devicetree ABI.
1) This document is intended as a general familiarization with the process as
decided at the 2013 Kernel Summit. When in doubt, the current word of the
devicetree maintainers overrules this document. In that situation, a patch
updating this document would be appreciated.