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Re: RFC: remove <sys/sysmacros.h> from <sys/types.h>

From: Paul Eggert <eggert at cs dot ucla dot edu>
To: GNU C Library <libc-alpha at sourceware dot org>
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2015 07:59:40 -0800
Subject: Re: RFC: remove <sys/sysmacros.h> from <sys/types.h>
Authentication-results: sourceware.org; auth=none
References: <CAKCAbMiU=h2Vs3X-b8mRjP3Kig_TVngObPNpYauTqZs_=0q6Gg at mail dot gmail dot com> <20151113144528 dot GA456 at altlinux dot org>

On 11/13/2015 06:45 AM, Dmitry V. Levin wrote:

>Since sys/types.h
>does not provide these macros on SysV-derived systems, I would expect
>that portable software that needs them is prepared to include
>sys/sysmacros.h itself.
Portable software already uses autoconf AC_HEADER_MAJOR macro or analogs.

Yes, since coreutils uses AC_HEADER_MAJOR already, programs like 'ls'and 'stat' would be unaffected by the proposed change: ./configure woulddiscover that sys/types.h no longer define 'major', 'minor' and'makedev', and coreutils/src/system.h would therefore include<sys/sysmacros.h>.

It's clear these three macros don't belong in <sys/types.h>, but it'salso clear there will be a conversion hassle for programs that are notas portable as coreutils etc. Can we deprecate these symbols withoutremoving them, and then remove them a few years from now? That might bethe wiser course.

References:
- RFC: remove <sys/sysmacros.h> from <sys/types.h>
  - From: Zack Weinberg
- Re: RFC: remove <sys/sysmacros.h> from <sys/types.h>
  - From: Dmitry V. Levin

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