Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2005 18:44:32 +0100 (CET)
From: Roman Zippel <zippel@linux-m68k.org>
To: Russell King <rmk+lkml@arm.linux.org.uk>
cc: ray-gmail@madrabbit.org, Kyle Moffett <mrmacman_g4@mac.com>,
       Thomas Gleixner <tglx@linutronix.de>, linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org,
       akpm@osdl.org, mingo@elte.hu, george@mvista.com, johnstul@us.ibm.com
Subject: Re: [patch 00/43] ktimer reworked
In-Reply-To: <20051201165144.GC31551@flint.arm.linux.org.uk>
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Hi,

On Thu, 1 Dec 2005, Russell King wrote:

>  timeout
> 
>   A period of time after which an error condition is raised if some event
>   has not occured. A common example is sending a message. If the receiver
>   does not acknowledge the message within some preset timeout period, a
>   transmission error is assumed to have occured.
> 
>  timer
> 
>   a timepiece that measures a time interval and signals its end
> 
> Hence, timers have the implication that they are _expected_ to expire.
> Timeouts have the implication that their expiry is an exceptional
> condition.

IOW a timeout uses a timer to implement an exceptional condition after a 
period of time expires.

> So can we stop rehashing this stupid discussion?

The naming isn't actually my primary concern. I want a precise definition 
of the expected behaviour and usage of the old and new timer system. If I 
had this, it would be far easier to choose a proper name.
E.g. I still don't know why ktimeout should be restricted to raise just 
"error conditions", as the name implies.

bye, Roman
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