Re: [RFC PATCH 4/4] llist.h: Fix parentheses around macro pointer parameter use

[Huang, Ying]

Linus Torvalds <torvalds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

> On Thu, May 4, 2023 at 7:54 AM Mathieu Desnoyers
> <mathieu.desnoyers@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> +#define list_prepare_entry(pos, head, member) \
>> +       ((pos) ? : list_entry(head, typeof(*pos), member))
>>
>> So even though the fact that "pos" is used as an lvalue specifically in
>> llist_for_each_entry_safe() makes it so that the parentheses are not
>> strictly required around "pos" in typeof(*pos), I argue that we should
>> still add those for consistency.
>
> Ack. It may not matter in reality because of how 'pos' is supposed to
> be just a local variable name, but I agree that for consistency our
> macros should still follow the usual pattern.
>
> Of course, *because* of how 'pos' is not some random expression, and
> is supposed to be that local variable, and because of how it is used,
> it must always violate the whole "only use once" usual pattern,.
>
> Exactly the same way the member name is also typically used multiple
> times because of how it's not an expression, but really a "part of the
> syntax".
>
> So an alternative might be that we should use a different syntax for
> those things and make it clear that they are not normal expressions.
> Some people use upper-case names for special things like that to make
> them stand out as "not normal" (kind of the same way upper-case macros
> themselves were a warning that they weren't normal and might evaluate
> arguments multiple times).

This sounds a good idea for me.

And with this, I think that we will use typeof(*POS) instead of
typeof(*(pos))?

Best Regards,
Huang, Ying