AMD Linux Graphics Driver Working To Clear Out All Of Its BUG()s

AMDGPU kernel driver maintainer Alex Deucher of AMD sent out a set of 30 patches today working on clearing out all of the BUG() usage within this Linux kernel graphics driver.

The Linux BUG() macro is used as a crash mechanism when encountering unrecoverable conditions. Calling BUG() results in a halt of execution and dumping of important debug information. But calling BUG() can lead to a full kernel panic and can also be used by attackers for nefarious purposes like trying to cause a denial of service.

Deucher has been going through the AMDGPU BUG() calls to change code when the driver has no reason to purposefully crash the running kernel and could be recovered. In some cases where BUG() was called they can be just reduced to warnings or in other cases just emitting errors but where the driver can safely continue operation.

So with this 30 patch series much of the AMDGPU driver's existing BUG() usage is safely adapted to avoid it. For those triggering specific issues with the AMDGPU driver, it will ideally allow the system to continue on running rather than intentionally crashing/halting the system with BUG() usage.

The BUG() clean-up is out for review today on the AMD graphics mailing list.