HACKING: catch up with libsigrok docs (mem alloc, var decl)

[sigrok-cli.git] / HACKING

diff --git a/HACKING b/HACKING
index 94064f8765a037073b7a309eebda21f4f5aa9a66..36c6756faaccd9228019d84a17f5aee8eeec9f0b 100644 (file)
--- a/HACKING
+++ b/HACKING
@@ -15,31 +15,41 @@ Please use the same style for any code contributions, thanks!
 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
 ------------
 
- - Consistently use g_try_malloc() / g_try_malloc0(). Do not use standard
+ - Don't do variable declarations in compound statements, only at the
+   beginning of a function.
+
+ - Generally avoid assigning values to variables at declaration time,
+   especially so for complex and/or run-time dependent values.
+
+ - 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.
-   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.