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DateSun, 23 Apr 2006 05:05:41 +1000
FromNick Piggin <>
SubjectRe: kfree(NULL)
Hua Zhong wrote:
>  > There is a judgement to be made at each call site of kfree 
> 
>>(and similar functions) about whether the argument is rarely 
>>NULL, or could often be NULL.  If the janitors have been 
>>making this judgement, I apologise, but I haven't seen them 
>>doing that.
>>
>>Paul.
> 
> 
> Even if the caller passes NULL most of the time, the check should be removed.
> 
> It's just crazy talk to say "you should not check NULL before calling kfree, as long as you make sure it's not NULL most of the
> time".

It can reduce readability of the code [unless it is used in error path
simplification, kfree(something) usually suggests kfree-an-object].

If the caller passes NULL most of the time, it could be in need of
redesign.

I don't actually like kfree(NULL) any time except error paths. It is
subjective, not crazy talk.

-- 
SUSE Labs, Novell Inc.
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