[PATCH] dma-buf/dma-fence: Mark two callbacks as deprecated
From: Philipp Stanner
Date: Wed Sep 23 2026 - 11:07:56 EST
dma_fence's backend_ops functions ops->wait() and ops->release() are
problematic because they prevent fence producers from unloading.
Moreover, they can easily be implemented through simpler means more
aligned with the dma_fence contract.
Since the declared goal of dma_fence is to move towards an
implementation that supports driver-unload in all circumstances, we must
prevent more parties from implementing those callbacks.
Deprecate ops->release() and ops->wait() and document what users should
do instead.
Signed-off-by: Philipp Stanner <phasta@xxxxxxxxxx>
---
include/linux/dma-fence.h | 14 ++++++++++++++
1 file changed, 14 insertions(+)
diff --git a/include/linux/dma-fence.h b/include/linux/dma-fence.h
index dd07d128adc3..59af0159cd25 100644
--- a/include/linux/dma-fence.h
+++ b/include/linux/dma-fence.h
@@ -220,6 +220,8 @@ struct dma_fence_ops {
/**
* @wait:
*
+ * DEPRECATED!
+ *
* Custom wait implementation, defaults to dma_fence_default_wait() if
* not set.
*
@@ -236,6 +238,10 @@ struct dma_fence_ops {
* Implementing this callback prevents the fence from detaching after
* signaling and so it is necessary for the module providing the
* dma_fence_ops to stay loaded as long as the dma_fence exists.
+ *
+ * Deprecated for the reason mentioned above. No new users must be
+ * implemented. Consumers of a fence can instead notify themselves by
+ * registering a callback on the fence.
*/
signed long (*wait)(struct dma_fence *fence,
bool intr, signed long timeout);
@@ -243,6 +249,8 @@ struct dma_fence_ops {
/**
* @release:
*
+ * DEPRECATED!
+ *
* Called on destruction of fence to release additional resources.
* Can be called from irq context. This callback is optional. If it is
* NULL, then dma_fence_free() is instead called as the default
@@ -254,6 +262,12 @@ struct dma_fence_ops {
*
* If the callback is implemented the memory backing the dma_fence
* object must be freed RCU safe.
+ *
+ * Deprecated because it prevents the producer of a fence from
+ * unloading. No new users must be implemented. Parties with a
+ * hypothetical need for this callback can instead simply and directly
+ * perform their custom release operations one RCU grace period after
+ * they have signaled the fence.
*/
void (*release)(struct dma_fence *fence);
base-commit: 2302669bb4b52d581cc2589b90b3af7bb3783a28
--
2.55.0