Hi, A few months ago, I asked on this list for more informative description of patches enabling non-kernel hackers to choose individual patchsets for their local kernels. Unfortunately, that question was denied pretty fast. Looks like you guys don't have time to write more extensive docs.
cleanup: Cosmetic change bugfix: Fixes a bug that might result in errant behavior crashfix: Fixes a bug that might result in a kernel crash oopsfix: Fixes a bug that might result in a kernel oops build: Fixes a build time issue feature: Adds a new feature maybe-security: Fixes an issue that might pose a security problem security: Fixes a sure security problem license: Patch accompanying driver removal due to license issues documentation: Documentation patch only patchfix: fixes a bug introduced by some other patch Architecture-specific tags do not seem to be necessary as architecture specific patches have the architecture in their file name. To locate possible problems with the classification, I have tried to roughly classify the patches from current 2.6.10 svn: x86-i486_emu.dpatch feature tty-locking-fixes9.dpatch bugfix sparc64-hme-lockup.dpatch bugfix sparc32-initrd-memcpy.dpatch bugfix smbfs-overflow-fixes.dpatch maybe-security smbfs-overflow-fixes-2.dpatch maybe-security sec_brk-locked.dpatch security remove-references-to-removed-drivers.dpatch license powerpc-serial.dpatch bugfix powerpc-pegasos-via82cxxx.dpatch bugfix powerpc-pegasos-2.dpatch feature powerpc-g4-l2-flush-errata.dpatch bugfix modular-vesafb.dpatch feature modular-vesafb-2.dpatch feature modular-ide.dpatch bugfix modular-ide-pnp.dpatch feature modular-ide-2.dpatch feature marvell-pegasos.dpatch feature ia64-irq-affinity-upfix.dpatch build ia64-generic-no-smp.dpatch build ia64-generic-no-smp-1-to-2.dpatch build ia64-bte_error-missing-include.dpatch build fs-asfs.dpatch feature fix-mxser-compile.dpatch build drm-locking-fixes.dpatch crashfix drivers-scsi_changer.dpatch feature drivers-net-tg3-readd.dpatch license drivers-net-8139too-locking.dpatch crashfix drivers-input-psaux-hacks.dpatch feature drivers-ide-dma-blacklist-toshiba.dpatch bugfix drivers-ide-__devinit.dpatch cleanup doc-post_halloween.dpatch documentation alsa-module-load-fix.dpatch crashfix 032-do_brk_security_fixes.dpatch security 031-sg_scsi_ioctl_int_overflows.dpatch security 030-moxa_user_copy_checking.dpatch security 029-random_poolsize_overflow.dpatch security 028-do_brk_security_fixes.dpatch security 027-track_dummy_capability-2.dpatch cleanup 026-nfs_o_direct_error.dpatch maybe-security 025-track_dummy_capability.dpatch maybe-security 024-nfs_incorrect_df_output.dpatch bugfix 023-nfs_dentry_refcount.dpatch bugfix 022-sunrpc_xdr_flush_pages.dpatch bugfix 021-sunrpc_check_before_kill.dpatch bugfix 020-clear_cyrix_mii_ecx_reg.dpatch bugfix 019-conntrack_tcp_RST_handling.dpatch bugfix 018-ipt_recent_proc_remove.dpatch bugfix 017-conntrack_sctp_sysctl.dpatch bugfix 016-cs461x_gameport.dpatch feature 015-vmscan_total_scanned.dpatch bugfix 014-acpi_video_dev_slab_corruption.dpatch maybe-security 013-conntrack_standalone_sysctl.dpatch bugfix 012-conntrack_standalone_proc_removal.dpatch bugfix 011-parport_pc_module_parm_mixing.dpatch cleanup 010-sparc64_macro_pmd_offset.dpatch cleanup 009-ipt_ecn_corrupt_chksum.dpatch bugfix 008-sock_without_ipv6.dpatch build 007-pci_ide_no_reserve.dpatch bugfix 006-zatm_cast_fix_fix.dpatch build 005-sparc64_no_i_sock-2.dpatch patchfix 004-sparc64_no_i_sock.dpatch build 003-libata_alpha_build_fix.dpatch build 002-pio_err_handling.dpatch bugfix 001-acpi_ibm_exit.dpatch cleanup One possible source of problems is that some patches, for example the patchfix patches, depend on some other patches. In those case, that dependency needs to be documented more clearly. Additionally, maybe the bugfix category needs to be split into more categories, we have too many patches in that category. The categorization may be wrong since I don't have too much clue with kernel hacking and did this categorization mainly from the comments of the patch. In my opinion, it would be desireable that a patch be categorized by the kernel team on inclusion into Debian svn. I would like to solicit your comments about this concept. Greetings Marc -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marc Haber | "I don't trust Computers. They | Mailadresse im Header Mannheim, Germany | lose things." Winona Ryder | Fon: *49 621 72739834 Nordisch by Nature | How to make an American Quilt | Fax: *49 621 72739835
