toaruos/modules/README.md
2018-08-21 16:45:13 +09:00

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# Kernel Modules
The Toaru kernel supports loadable modules which provide most of the device driver support.
A simple module requires a load and unload method, which are exposed along with a module
name through the `MODULE_DEF` macro available from `<kernel/module.h>`.
```c
#include <kernel/module.h>
static int load(void) {
/* Run on module installation */
return 0;
}
static int unload(void) {
/* Clean up for removal */
return 0;
}
MODULE_DEF(example_mod, load, unload);
```
## Module Dependencies
If your module depends on another module being loaded, list each dependency using the `MODULE_DEPENDS` macro:
```c
MODULE_DEF(extension_mod, load, unload);
MODULE_DEPENDS(example_mod);
```
Currently, dependencies are tested at load time, but the kernel will not load dependencies for you.
Dependency lists can be parsed by external tools to ensure modules are properly linked.
## Kernel Functions
All non-static kernel functions are available for use in modules.
For example, the logging functions may be used:
```c
#include <kernel/logging.h>
#include <kernel/module.h>
static int load(void) {
debug_print(WARNING, "Hello, world.");
return 0;
}
static int unload(void) {
return 0;
}
MODULE_DEF(printing_mod, load, unload);
```
## Background Tasks
Device drivers, such as those for network devices, may want to create a background process to manage tasks.
This can be done through the `create_kernel_tasklet` interface at device startup.
```c
#include <kernel/process.h>
#include <kernel/module.h>
static void tasklet_run(void * data, char * name) {
/* Perform tasklet activities */
while (1) {
do_thing();
}
}
static int load(void) {
create_kernel_tasklet(tasklet_run, "[demo-tasklet]", NULL);
return 0;
}
static int unload(void) {
/* Maybe clean up your tasklet here. */
return 0;
}
MODULE_DEF(tasklet_mod, load, unload);
```
## Caveats
- Currently, unloading modules is not supported.
- Modules which are expected to be loaded at runtime should be very careful of memory allocations they make, as they happen in a context which may not be shared with other processes. If you wish to make use of memory mappings, ensure that you are creating a new kernel tasklet to perform work. Attempting to access mapped memory from an interrupt handler or a device driver may not be possible if it was mapped at module installation.