genksyms - generate symbol version information

genksyms [-wq] [-dD] [-V] [-k version] [-p string] [output directory]

Genksyms reads (on standard input) the output from "gcc -E source.c" and generates a file containing version information.

Depending on the output format indicated by the -k option, the output will either be written to a .ver file in the named output directory, or to the standard output.

Genksyms normally looks for explicit symbol table definitions in the source file. All definitions and declarations of typedef, struct, union and enum will be saved for later expansion. Every global symbol will also be saved, together with pointers that will enable a full expansion later on.

When a symbol table is found in the source, the symbol will be expanded to its full definition, where all structs, unions, enums and typedefs will be expanded down to their basic part, recursively. This final string will then be used as input to a CRC algorithm that will give an integer that will change as soon as any of the included definitions changes, for this symbol.

The version information in the kernel normally looks like: symbol_R12345678, where 12345678 is the hexadecimal representation of the CRC.

-d, --debug

Output debugging information; repeating this option increases the verbosity. Debug level 1 generates moderate information about the actions being taken; debug level 2 enables parser recognition output; debug level 3 enables lexical analysis output.

-D, --dump

Dump expanded symbol definitions to stderr. For debugging use only.

-h, --help

Display a summary of options and immediately exit.

-k version, --kernel version

Select the version of the kernel for which to generate output. Omitting this option assumes a version below 2.1.0. Versions below 2.1.18 use checksum version 1, and produce their output in the directory given on the command line. Versions 2.1.18 and above use checksum version 2 and produce their output on stdout.

-p string, --prefix string

Prepend the given string to the CRCs generated for all symbols. This is intended for use with, e.g., SMP kernels, wherein the modules are not compatible at a level below that described by the data types. This is primarily caused by inline function expansions in the module code itself.

-q, --quiet

Quiet warnings, i.e. reverse the -w option.

-V, --version

Display the version of genksyms.

-w, --warnings

Enable warnings due to unrecognized syntax and declared but undefined structures. These warnings are normally suppressed.

insmod(8), modprobe(8)

The -h option is broken; --help is fine.

genksyms [-V | --version] should display version information and then exit immediately. Instead, it prints the version information and behaves as if no options were given.

Although the fix for this bug is trivial, it changes the behaviour of modutils. Given the large number of distributions and scripts that run modutils and expect the current behaviour, any change of behaviour is unacceptable in 2.4. Don't bother sending patches for this bug, it will not be fixed in 2.4, it should be fixed in 2.5.

This versioning concept is a result from discussions, not at least on the KERNEL-channel, with a lot of people.

The genksyms utility was created in 1994 by Bjorn Ekwall <bj0rn@blox.se> being mostly inspired by Jacques Gelinas <jack@solucorp.ca> and Jeremy Fitzhardinge <jeremy@suite.sw.oz.au>

It was rewritten in 1996 by Richard Henderson to use a proper lexer and parser.