codec_init(9)

💖 codec_init — like, the Kernel API Manual page, bestie 💖

okay so this one lives in the Kernel API Manual and it's literally the moment your Reed-Solomon codec gets born. not me being dramatic, it's just true 🎀

✨ NAME ✨

codec_init — Initialize a Reed-Solomon codec. that's it. that's the whole vibe check. 🦋

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

struct rs_codec * codec_init (int symsize , int gfpoly , int (*gffunc)(int) , int fcr , int prim , int nroots , gfp_t gfp );

seven arguments. count 'em. she's thorough 👑

🫶 ARGUMENTS 🫶

• symsize — symbol size, in bits, and it's gotta be in the range 1-8. like, a whole byte max, no exceptions, don't try it 💅
• gfpoly — Field generator polynomial coefficients. yes bestie, the polynomial ✨
• gffunc — Field generator function. it's a (*gffunc)(int) situation, iykyk 🧚
• fcr — first root of RS code generator polynomial, index form. first!! she goes first 🔥
• prim — primitive element to generate polynomial roots. primitive but make it main character energy 👑
• nroots — RS code generator polynomial degree (number of roots). it's giving "how many roots" and the answer is this many 🌈
• gfp — the GFP_ flags for allocations. memory allocation flags, no cap 🙈

💜 DESCRIPTION 💜

So what does she actually do. Two things, and they're both iconic:

1. Allocate a codec structure.
2. Allocate the polynom arrays — those are there for faster en/decoding, so you're welcome 💖

Then she fills those arrays according to the given parameters. that's it. that's the whole thing. parameters in, filled arrays out, slay 🎀

ngl the "faster en/decoding" part is literally the whole point — the arrays get filled so your encode/decode doesn't have to do the slow thing later. obsessed. ⭐

🦋 SEE ALSO 🦋

the Kernel file ./lib/reed_solomon/reed_solomon.c is where she lives, and here's the whole friend group:

• free_rs(9)
• init_rs_internal(9)
• init_rs_gfp(9)
• init_rs_non_canonical(9)
• encode_rs8(9)
• decode_rs8(9)
• encode_rs16(9)
• decode_rs16(9)

go say hi. they don't bite 💜

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okay that's the page!! source is ./lib/reed_solomon and the date on it is October 2026, so yeah — that's the cute little sign-off, mwah 💅✨🍓 🌸