Documentation/gpio.txt: Explain expected pinctrl interaction

Update gpio.txt based on recent discussions regarding interaction with the
pinctrl subsystem.

Previously, gpio_request() was described as explicitly not performing any
required mux setup operations etc.

Now, gpio_request() is explicitly as explicitly performing any required mux
setup operations where possible. In the case it isn't, platform code is
required to have set up any required muxing or other configuration prior to
gpio_request() being called, in order to maintain the same semantics.

This is achieved by gpiolib drivers calling e.g. pinctrl_request_gpio() in
their .request() operation.

Cc: Randy Dunlap <rdunlap@xenotime.net>
Cc: linux-doc@vger.kernel.org
Signed-off-by: Stephen Warren <swarren@nvidia.com>
Reviewed-by: Linus Walleij <linus.walleij@linaro.org>
Signed-off-by: Grant Likely <grant.likely@secretlab.ca>

1 files changed, 20 insertions, 3 deletions

diff --git a/Documentation/gpio.txt b/Documentation/gpio.txt
index f783e7fed76..620a07844e8 100644
--- a/Documentation/gpio.txt
+++ b/Documentation/gpio.txt
@@ -271,9 +271,26 @@ Some platforms may also use knowledge about what GPIOs are active for
 power management, such as by powering down unused chip sectors and, more
 easily, gating off unused clocks.
 
-Note that requesting a GPIO does NOT cause it to be configured in any
-way; it just marks that GPIO as in use.  Separate code must handle any
-pin setup (e.g. controlling which pin the GPIO uses, pullup/pulldown).
+For GPIOs that use pins known to the pinctrl subsystem, that subsystem should
+be informed of their use; a gpiolib driver's .request() operation may call
+pinctrl_request_gpio(), and a gpiolib driver's .free() operation may call
+pinctrl_free_gpio(). The pinctrl subsystem allows a pinctrl_request_gpio()
+to succeed concurrently with a pin or pingroup being "owned" by a device for
+pin multiplexing.
+
+Any programming of pin multiplexing hardware that is needed to route the
+GPIO signal to the appropriate pin should occur within a GPIO driver's
+.direction_input() or .direction_output() operations, and occur after any
+setup of an output GPIO's value. This allows a glitch-free migration from a
+pin's special function to GPIO. This is sometimes required when using a GPIO
+to implement a workaround on signals typically driven by a non-GPIO HW block.
+
+Some platforms allow some or all GPIO signals to be routed to different pins.
+Similarly, other aspects of the GPIO or pin may need to be configured, such as
+pullup/pulldown. Platform software should arrange that any such details are
+configured prior to gpio_request() being called for those GPIOs, e.g. using
+the pinctrl subsystem's mapping table, so that GPIO users need not be aware
+of these details.
 
 Also note that it's your responsibility to have stopped using a GPIO
 before you free it.