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authorJacek Lawrynowicz <jacek.lawrynowicz@linux.intel.com>2025-03-14 11:01:36 +0100
committerJonathan Corbet <corbet@lwn.net>2025-03-17 17:04:32 -0600
commit5b8f85d081da449ab35e4bd009d7c00afaab2fab (patch)
treeb8bb41b4c591f58cdd9ef74191bcd9b1a01e45d1
parent4e6b7141d1696247c42dd2d94a06f49211b42727 (diff)
docs: driver-api: firmware: clarify userspace requirements
The guidelines mention that firmware updates can't break the kernel, but it doesn't state directly that they can't break userspace programs. Make it explicit that firmware updates cannot break UAPI. Signed-off-by: Jacek Lawrynowicz <jacek.lawrynowicz@linux.intel.com> Acked-by: Dave Airlie <airlied@redhat.com> [jc: fixed "no trailing newline"] Signed-off-by: Jonathan Corbet <corbet@lwn.net> Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20250314100137.2972355-1-jacek.lawrynowicz@linux.intel.com
-rw-r--r--Documentation/driver-api/firmware/firmware-usage-guidelines.rst5
1 files changed, 5 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/Documentation/driver-api/firmware/firmware-usage-guidelines.rst b/Documentation/driver-api/firmware/firmware-usage-guidelines.rst
index fdcfce42c6d2..336e912281c3 100644
--- a/Documentation/driver-api/firmware/firmware-usage-guidelines.rst
+++ b/Documentation/driver-api/firmware/firmware-usage-guidelines.rst
@@ -42,3 +42,8 @@ then of course these rules will not apply strictly.)
deprecating old major versions, then this should only be done as a
last option, and be stated clearly in all communications.
+* Firmware files that affect the User API (UAPI) shall not introduce
+ changes that break existing userspace programs. Updates to such firmware
+ must ensure backward compatibility with existing userspace applications.
+ This includes maintaining consistent interfaces and behaviors that
+ userspace programs rely on.