Re: [PATCH] selftests/mm: Fix soft-dirty kselftest supported check

Lorenzo Stoakes (Oracle)
2026-03-27T11:14:13Z

On Fri, Mar 27, 2026 at 10:52:24AM +0000, Lorenzo Stoakes (Oracle) wrote:
> OK again I'm starting to think we just shouldn't support fix-patches at all any
> more.
>
> This is an example of a change being done in a fix-patch that's _really_
> causing issues.

I didn't see there was a v2 in-reply-to here sorry.

So in this case less fix patch more:

1. We shouldn't automatically take stuff to mm-unstable until it's settled

2. We should have clear separate branches for stuff-for-7.1 and stuff-for-7.2

3. We should build test stuff (!)

4. We should root cause the source of problems and update the thing that cause.

Part of the problem here is that mm-unstable is a totally unreliable base. Not
as bad as mm-new, but it's forgiveable that Audra didn't see Chris Down's patch
there because who knows when that went in etc.

if we had a for-7.1 git branch that only got stuff that had settled we'd not
have this issue.

And we could have a for-7.2 git branch for stuff that's arrived late.

We could have:

mm-untested (was mm-new)
mm-under-review (was mm-unstable) -> THIS doesn't go to -next
mm-for-7.1 (was mm-stable) -> THIS goes to -next
mm-for-7.2 (fresh and new!) -> THIS only goes to -next next cycle

And workflow could be:

-> patch comes in
go straight to mm-untested - we are undiscerning
[ make sure series gets build tested + self tests + etc ]
goes to mm-under-review
WEEKLY:
Stuff that has sub-M signoff and seen no further issues -> for-7.1 (i.e. next release)
if it's <= rc4 and no other reasons to hold off

OR for stuff that doesn't fit the rc4/no other reason criteria
-> for-7.2 if signoff and no issues

If things get reviewed and respun

-> back to mm-untested until tests pass no matter tags
-> (if stable) can jump right to for-7.1/for-7.2 if signed off already. if not then mm-under-review

This way we reduce chance of late yank, give reasonable rebase target of
for-[release you are interested in], documents and simplifies the process.

Thoughts?...

Cheers, Lorenzo