__drm_gem_dma_create(9)

📦 version 7.3.1, in nixpkgs unstable

💖 __drm_gem_dma_create — Kernel API Manual realness 💖

okay so bestie, buckle up, we're in the Kernel API Manual and this page is literally about __drm_gem_dma_create(9). yes the double-underscore one. she's the ✨internal✨ sister, iykyk 🎀

🌸 NAME 🌸

__drm_gem_dma_create — create a GEM DMA object without allocating memory 🫶

like... she makes the object but leaves the actual memory part for later. no cap, that's the whole vibe 💅

✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

struct drm_gem_dma_object * __drm_gem_dma_create (struct drm_device *drm
, size_t size , bool private );

three args, boo. drm, size, private. copy it exactly, don't @ me 🙈

🦋 ARGUMENTS 🦋

  • drm — the DRM device 🖥️ literally the thing we're building on top of
  • size — size of the object to allocate 📏 the number, the whole point
  • private — true if it's used for internal purposes 🔒 so like, it's giving "for our eyes only"

💀 DESCRIPTION 💀

okay so here's the tea ☕ this function creates and initializes a GEM DMA object of the given size, but — and this is the main character plot twist — it doesn't allocate any memory to back the object. 🫥

so you get the object, all cute and initialized, and the backing memory is somebody else's problem. not hers. she's booked and busy. periodt 💅✨

🔥 RETURN 🔥

  • on the win: a struct drm_gem_dma_object * 🎉
  • on the flop: an ERR_PTR-encoded negative error code 😭 so fr fr check it before you go dereferencing, bestie

👑 SEE ALSO 👑

the kernel file is hanging out in ./drivers/gpu/drm/drm_gem_dma_helper.c and honestly the whole friend group is here:

all twelve of them, exactly as listed, squad goals 🫶💜

ngl this page is from the ./drivers/gpu/drm corner of the kernel and it's dated October 2026 — shoutout to the source/version and date, they ate 🍓

k bye love u, go check your ERR_PTR before you ship it 💖🎀✨

📦 where this page comes from