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diff --git a/Documentation/ABI/README b/Documentation/ABI/README new file mode 100644 index 000000000..3121029dc --- /dev/null +++ b/Documentation/ABI/README @@ -0,0 +1,87 @@ +This directory attempts to document the ABI between the Linux kernel and +userspace, and the relative stability of these interfaces. Due to the +everchanging nature of Linux, and the differing maturity levels, these +interfaces should be used by userspace programs in different ways. + +We have four different levels of ABI stability, as shown by the four +different subdirectories in this location. Interfaces may change levels +of stability according to the rules described below. + +The different levels of stability are: + + stable/ + This directory documents the interfaces that the developer has + defined to be stable. Userspace programs are free to use these + interfaces with no restrictions, and backward compatibility for + them will be guaranteed for at least 2 years. Most interfaces + (like syscalls) are expected to never change and always be + available. + + testing/ + This directory documents interfaces that are felt to be stable, + as the main development of this interface has been completed. + The interface can be changed to add new features, but the + current interface will not break by doing this, unless grave + errors or security problems are found in them. Userspace + programs can start to rely on these interfaces, but they must be + aware of changes that can occur before these interfaces move to + be marked stable. Programs that use these interfaces are + strongly encouraged to add their name to the description of + these interfaces, so that the kernel developers can easily + notify them if any changes occur (see the description of the + layout of the files below for details on how to do this.) + + obsolete/ + This directory documents interfaces that are still remaining in + the kernel, but are marked to be removed at some later point in + time. The description of the interface will document the reason + why it is obsolete and when it can be expected to be removed. + + removed/ + This directory contains a list of the old interfaces that have + been removed from the kernel. + +Every file in these directories will contain the following information: + +What: Short description of the interface +Date: Date created +KernelVersion: Kernel version this feature first showed up in. +Contact: Primary contact for this interface (may be a mailing list) +Description: Long description of the interface and how to use it. +Users: All users of this interface who wish to be notified when + it changes. This is very important for interfaces in + the "testing" stage, so that kernel developers can work + with userspace developers to ensure that things do not + break in ways that are unacceptable. It is also + important to get feedback for these interfaces to make + sure they are working in a proper way and do not need to + be changed further. + + +How things move between levels: + +Interfaces in stable may move to obsolete, as long as the proper +notification is given. + +Interfaces may be removed from obsolete and the kernel as long as the +documented amount of time has gone by. + +Interfaces in the testing state can move to the stable state when the +developers feel they are finished. They cannot be removed from the +kernel tree without going through the obsolete state first. + +It's up to the developer to place their interfaces in the category they +wish for it to start out in. + + +Notable bits of non-ABI, which should not under any circumstances be considered +stable: + +- Kconfig. Userspace should not rely on the presence or absence of any + particular Kconfig symbol, in /proc/config.gz, in the copy of .config + commonly installed to /boot, or in any invocation of the kernel build + process. + +- Kernel-internal symbols. Do not rely on the presence, absence, location, or + type of any kernel symbol, either in System.map files or the kernel binary + itself. See Documentation/process/stable-api-nonsense.rst. |