Re: [PATCH linux-doc v3] docs/doc-guide: Clarify how to write tables

From: Randy Dunlap
Date: Mon Apr 24 2023 - 16:13:48 EST




On 4/24/23 10:18, Joe Stringer wrote:
> Prior to this commit, the kernel docs writing guide spent over a page
> describing exactly how *not* to write tables into the kernel docs,
> without providing a example about the desired format.
>
> This patch provides a positive example first in the guide so that it's
> harder to miss, then leaves the existing less desirable approach below
> for contributors to follow if they have some stronger justification for
> why to use that approach.
>
> Signed-off-by: Joe Stringer <joe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Reviewed-by: Randy Dunlap <rdunlap@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Thanks.

> ---
> v3: Fix grammar mistake
> v2: Simplify recommendation for either simple or grid table syntax
> Remove example, link to rST user reference
> ---
> Documentation/doc-guide/sphinx.rst | 11 ++++++++++-
> 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
>
> diff --git a/Documentation/doc-guide/sphinx.rst b/Documentation/doc-guide/sphinx.rst
> index 23edb427e76f..cd8ad7904491 100644
> --- a/Documentation/doc-guide/sphinx.rst
> +++ b/Documentation/doc-guide/sphinx.rst
> @@ -313,9 +313,18 @@ the documentation build system will automatically turn a reference to
> function name exists. If you see ``c:func:`` use in a kernel document,
> please feel free to remove it.
>
> +Tables
> +------
> +
> +ReStructuredText provides several options for table syntax. Kernel style for
> +tables is to prefer *simple table* syntax or *grid table* syntax. See the
> +`reStructuredText user reference for table syntax`_ for more details.
> +
> +.. _reStructuredText user reference for table syntax:
> + https://docutils.sourceforge.io/docs/user/rst/quickref.html#tables
>
> list tables
> ------------
> +~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> The list-table formats can be useful for tables that are not easily laid
> out in the usual Sphinx ASCII-art formats. These formats are nearly

--
~Randy