[U-Boot] Porting Linux's MTD/NAND changes into U-Boot

[Scott Wood]

On Mon, 2016-04-25 at 22:53 +0200, Boris Brezillon wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Apr 2016 13:36:46 -0400
> Tom Rini <trini at konsulko.com> wrote:
> 
> > On Mon, Apr 25, 2016 at 04:43:14PM +0200, Boris Brezillon wrote:
> > 
> > > Hi Scott,
> > > 
> > > I've recently contributed a lot of MTD/NAND related patches (and intend
> > > to continue doing so). Some of them are transversal changes touching the
> > > MTD and NAND framework internals, which implies patching all NAND
> > > drivers along with the core changes.
> > > 
> > > All those changes are required to properly handle modern NANDs (MLC/TLC
> > > NANDs), and I need them to add proper NAND support to the sunxi
> > > platform (and more particularly to the C.H.I.P from NextThing Co.).
> > > 
> > > So my question is, how should I port those changes to U-Boot? I see
> > > that your doing "synchronization commits", but in my case this mean
> > > including a bunch of driver specific changes into this "sync commit".
> > > 
> > > I think it's also worth mentioning that I plan to heavily rework the
> > > Linux NAND framework to improve NAND performances on modern NAND
> > > controllers and clarify the NAND chip / NAND controller concepts, and
> > > other people are also working on merging the BBT code of the NAND and
> > > OneNAND framework. Which unfortunately means that we're not done porting
> > > invasive changes to U-Boot :-/.
> > > 
> > > Any advice is welcome.  
> > 
> > I suppose my first suggestion would be to sync the kernel back into
> > U-Boot more frequently.  With our bi-monthly release cycle it shouldn't
> > be too hard to pick a window to grab the current kernel release and
> > bring it over.  I think the more stuff we let build up prior to syncing
> > the harder it will be.
> > 
> 
> Okay, so this means I should be the one back-porting Linux changes into
> U-Boot? I was planning on porting my current work on the sunxi NAND
> driver (including all the core dependencies) and submitting it to
> U-Boot, but honestly, I don't see how I can keep things in sync in the
> long run. From my experience, porting things to U-Boot is never as
> easy at it seems, and I don't think I'll have the time to maintain that
> by myself. Scott, what's your policy regarding Linux -> U-Boot syncs?
> Can I expect some help from your side?

I usually do syncs when someone complains about needing a sync.  Every release
seems a bit much.  I'll try to do one soon.

-Scott