From owner-cvs-all Sun Dec 16 10: 7:22 2001 Delivered-To: cvs-all@freebsd.org Received: from freefall.freebsd.org (freefall.FreeBSD.org [216.136.204.21]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 0296637B416; Sun, 16 Dec 2001 10:07:19 -0800 (PST) Received: (from luigi@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.11.6/8.11.6) id fBGI7I756408; Sun, 16 Dec 2001 10:07:18 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from luigi) Message-Id: <200112161807.fBGI7I756408@freefall.freebsd.org> From: Luigi Rizzo Date: Sun, 16 Dec 2001 10:07:18 -0800 (PST) To: cvs-committers@FreeBSD.org, cvs-all@FreeBSD.org Subject: cvs commit: src/sys/net if_var.h X-FreeBSD-CVS-Branch: RELENG_4 Sender: owner-cvs-all@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk List-ID: List-Archive: (Web Archive) List-Help: (List Instructions) List-Subscribe: List-Unsubscribe: X-Loop: FreeBSD.ORG luigi 2001/12/16 10:07:18 PST Modified files: (Branch: RELENG_4) sys/net if_var.h Log: Add a comment to clarify that even when structure size and fields do not change, there is no guarantee that start using previously "unused" fields will not break binary compatibility with third-party binary-only drivers. This is specifically in relation to the previous commit to STABLE (which might also break source compatibility because of the change of names of two fields, but this is actually a good thing because one can at least detect the problem at compile time). This said, and missing a specification of the interface for network device drivers, there is no way to guarantee binary compatibility, I am fully in favour of the previous commit, and actually thank Jonathan for creating a precedent (hoping that this comment will not cause others to request a backout). Revision Changes Path 1.18.2.10 +8 -1 src/sys/net/if_var.h To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe cvs-all" in the body of the message