and any comment so marked must be in kernel-doc format. Do not use
"/**" to be begin a comment block unless the comment block contains
kernel-doc formatted comments. The closing comment marker for
-kernel-doc comments can be either "*/" or "**/".
+kernel-doc comments can be either "*/" or "**/", but "*/" is
+preferred in the Linux kernel tree.
Kernel-doc comments should be placed just before the function
or data structure being described.
* comment lines.
*
* The longer description can have multiple paragraphs.
- **/
+ */
The first line, with the short description, must be on a single line.
this opening short function description line, with no intervening
empty comment lines.
+If a function parameter is "..." (varargs), it should be listed in
+kernel-doc notation as:
+ * @...: description
+
+
Example kernel-doc data structure comment.
/**
* perhaps with more lines and words.
*
* Longer description of this structure.
- **/
+ */
The kernel-doc function comments describe each parameter to the
function, in order, with the @name lines.
};
+Including documentation blocks in source files
+----------------------------------------------
+
+To facilitate having source code and comments close together, you can
+include kernel-doc documentation blocks that are free-form comments
+instead of being kernel-doc for functions, structures, unions,
+enums, or typedefs. This could be used for something like a
+theory of operation for a driver or library code, for example.
+
+This is done by using a DOC: section keyword with a section title. E.g.:
+
+/**
+ * DOC: Theory of Operation
+ *
+ * The whizbang foobar is a dilly of a gizmo. It can do whatever you
+ * want it to do, at any time. It reads your mind. Here's how it works.
+ *
+ * foo bar splat
+ *
+ * The only drawback to this gizmo is that is can sometimes damage
+ * hardware, software, or its subject(s).
+ */
+
+DOC: sections are used in SGML templates files as indicated below.
+
+
How to make new SGML template files
-----------------------------------
!F<filename> <function [functions...]> is replaced by the
documentation, in <filename>, for the functions listed.
+!P<filename> <section title> is replaced by the contents of the DOC:
+section titled <section title> from <filename>.
+Spaces are allowed in <section title>; do not quote the <section title>.
Tim.
*/ <twaugh@redhat.com>