Re: [PATCH] AC_HEADER_MAJOR: port to glibc 2.25

[Eric Blake]

On 09/14/2016 10:27 AM, Zack Weinberg wrote:
> glibc's sys/sysmacros.h _only_ defines major/minor/makedev.  What I'd
> worry about is whether any other C library has a different header with
> the same name; "sysmacros" is pretty generic.  I don't have any
> evidence either way on that question.
> 

Nor do I; and I also wonder if the fact that we checked mkdev.h first
(which catches BSD systems, if I'm not mistaken) would mask the effect
of a BSD system with both mkdev.h and sysmacros.h.  A quick google found
at least one other vendor with a sysmacros.h, with a lot more contents
than glibc's:
http://opensource.apple.com//source/zfs/zfs-59/zfs_common/sys/sysmacros.h

>> @@ -5977,6 +5977,27 @@ Particular Headers
>>  @code{makedev}, but @file{sys/mkdev.h} does, define
>>  @code{MAJOR_IN_MKDEV}; otherwise, if @file{sys/sysmacros.h} does, define
>>  @code{MAJOR_IN_SYSMACROS}.
> 
> This part of the description should probably be adjusted to match what
> the code does now.
> 
>> +To properly use any of these three functions, your code should contain
>> +something like:
> 
> Also, I think "three functions" here is meant to refer to
> major/minor/makedev, but it tripped me up the first time I read it.  I
> suggest instead
> 
>    Detect the headers required to use @code{makedev}, @code{major}, and
>    @code{minor}.  These functions may be defined by @file{sys/mkdev.h},
>    @code{sys/sysmacros.h}, or @file{sys/types.h}.
> 
>    @code{AC_HEADER_MAJOR} defines @code{MAJOR_IN_MKDEV} if they are in
>    @file{sys/mkdev.h}, or @code{MAJOR_IN_SYSMACROS} if they are in
>    @file{sys/sysmacros.h.}.  If neither macro is defined, they are either
>    in @file{sys/types.h} or they are unavailable.
> 
>    To portably use these functions, your code should contain something
>    like
> 
> and then your @verbatim block.
> 

Thanks for the wordsmithing help.  I'll post a v2.

> (Should AC_HEADER_MAJOR maybe throw an error if none of the possible
> headers we know about defines major/minor/makedev?  I believe this is
> the case on MinGW, for instance.)

If so, it would be a separate patch, as a change in policy.  For now,
compilation failure on mingw when attempting to use major() is no change
in status quo.

> I think we should check sys/types.h last.  That will future-proof
> against C libraries where these functions are in both sys/mkdev.h and
> sys/types.h deciding to do the same deprecation that glibc has done.

Good idea. Will respin to check mkdev.h first (as before), then
sysmacros.h, and sys/types.h last.

-- 
Eric Blake   eblake redhat com    +1-919-301-3266
Libvirt virtualization library http://libvirt.org

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