x2444m: Make each command an extra annotation class.

[libsigrokdecode.git] / HACKING

diff --git a/HACKING b/HACKING
index a9a6a03f1d70d82df6b6960765b2a19ec3a13771..30cd1fe5425db6da688743adec6f5830610a8468 100644 (file)
--- a/HACKING
+++ b/HACKING
@@ -5,29 +5,32 @@ HACKING
 Coding style
 ------------
 
-This project is programmed using the Linux kernel coding style, see
-http://lxr.linux.no/linux/Documentation/CodingStyle for details.
+This project is programmed using the Linux kernel coding style:
+
+  https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/process/coding-style.html
 
 Please use the same style for any code contributions, thanks!
 
 The Python decoders should follow the usual Python conventions and use
 Python idioms as far as it makes sense. The coding style should mostly follow
-the Python PEP-8, which includes the convention of 4 spaces for indentation.
-See http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/ for details.
+the Python PEP-8, which includes the convention of 4 spaces for indentation:
+
+  http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/
 
 
 Contributions
 -------------
 
- - Patches should be sent to the development mailinglist at
+ - In order to contribute you should ideally clone the git repository and
+   let us know (preferably via IRC, or via the mailing list) from where to
+   pull/review your changes. You can use github.com, or any other public git
+   hosting site.
+
+ - Alternatively, patches can be sent to the development mailinglist at
    sigrok-devel@lists.sourceforge.net (please subscribe to the list first).
 
    https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/sigrok-devel
 
- - Alternatively, you can also clone the git repository and let us know
-   from where to pull/review your changes. You can use gitorious.org,
-   github.com, or any other public git hosting site.
-
 
 Random notes
 ------------
@@ -38,18 +41,21 @@ Random notes
  - Generally avoid assigning values to variables at declaration time,
    especially so for complex and/or run-time dependent values.
 
- - Consistently use g_try_malloc() / g_try_malloc0(). Do not use standard
+ - Consistently use g_*malloc() / g_*malloc0(). Do not use standard
    malloc()/calloc() if it can be avoided (sometimes other libs such
    as libftdi can return malloc()'d memory, for example).
 
  - Always properly match allocations with the proper *free() functions. If
-   glib's g_try_malloc()/g_try_malloc0() was used, use g_free() to free the
+   glib's g_*malloc()/g_*malloc0() was used, use g_free() to free the
    memory. Otherwise use standard free(). Never use the wrong function!
 
- - Never use g_malloc() or g_malloc0(). These functions do not return NULL
-   if not enough memory is available but rather lead to an exit() or segfault
-   instead. This behaviour is not acceptable for libraries.
-   Use g_try_malloc()/g_try_malloc0() instead and check the return value.
+ - We assume that "small" memory allocations (< 1MB) will always succeed.
+   Thus, it's fine to use g_malloc() or g_malloc0() for allocations of
+   simple/small structs and such (instead of using g_try_malloc()), and
+   there's no need to check the return value.
+
+   Do use g_try_malloc() or g_try_malloc0() for large (>= 1MB) allocations
+   and check the return value.
 
  - You should never print any messages (neither to stdout nor stderr nor
    elsewhere) "manually" via e.g. printf() or g_log() or similar functions.
@@ -182,9 +188,8 @@ You can run the libsigrokdecode testsuite using:
 Protocol decoder test framework
 -------------------------------
 
-You can run the protocol decoder tests using (e.g.):
-
- $ ./tests/pdtest -r -a -v
+Please see the sigrok-test repository for a protocol decoder test suite that
+checks the decoded data of various PDs against known-good reference data.
 
 
 Release engineering