Re: [PATCH net-next 02/11] ethtool: Add loopback netlink UAPI definitions

[Maxime Chevallier]

On 11/03/2026 16:30, Andrew Lunn wrote:
>> I like this. The nice thing is that since "name" is a string, we're not
>> locked into an enum -- drivers report what they have using 802.3
>> vocabulary, and we document the recommended names (pcs, pma, pmd, mii)
>> with references? That way it's unambiguous, but not too constrained.
> 
> It is both good and bad. I expect some vendors will just ignore the
> text and use what their data sheet says, because they don't know
> better. An enum forces more consistency.
> 
> https://gist.github.com/mjball/9cd028ac793ae8b351df1379f1e721f9
> 
> enum gets you around level 9. string around level 3.
> 
>       Andrew

Oh didn't know that manifesto.

Givent the current discussions I'm indeed starting to think an enum
value will be enough to cover a good portion of the usecases, so I'm
OK with it :)

Maxime