devm_alloc_workqueue(9)

💅 devm_alloc_workqueue(9) — from the Kernel API Manual, bestie

okay so picture this: you're a driver dev, you need a workqueue, and you do not want to write destroy-on-detach cleanup code like some kind of Victorian orphan. enter devm_alloc_workqueue. it's the resource-managed glow-up of workqueue allocation, and honestly? iconic. ✨

---

✨ NAME ✨

devm_alloc_workqueue — resource-managed allocate a workqueue 🎀

---

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

struct workqueue_struct * devm_alloc_workqueue (struct device *dev ,
       const char *fmt , unsigned int flags , int max_active , ... );

like, that's the whole vibe. look at it. five things, and then ... just hanging out at the end doing its little variadic thing 🫶

---

💖 ARGUMENTS 💖

• dev — the device you're allocating this workqueue for. it's the whole reason the managed magic works, so pls don't get cute with it.
• fmt — a printf format string for the name of the workqueue. that's the name, bestie, so make it a good one.
• flags — the WQ_* flags. capitals, underscore, go read the docs on those because this page isn't gonna spell them out for you.
• max_active — max in-flight work items. pass 0 and you get the default, ez pz.
• ... — the args for fmt. your classic variadic situation. no notes.

---

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

so it's a resource managed workqueue — and if you want the full deep-dive deets, go see alloc_workqueue. that's the real one. this one's the managed version of it.

the headline here, the main character energy of this page: the workqueue will be automatically destroyed on driver detach. ✨ no manual teardown era. we simply do not clean up by hand anymore.

typically you should use this in drivers that are already relying on devm interfaces — like, don't be the one driver in the tree doing something different, iykyk. keep it consistent, it's giving very "everybody else is doing it, so should u" but in the healthy way 💅

---

🔥 RETURN 🔥

• success → a Pointer to the allocated workqueue 👑
• failure → NULL 😭 (yes, check it. always check it. no cap.)

---

🧚 SEE ALSO 🧚

the full squad, no one left behind:

• Kernel file ./include/linux/workqueue.h struct workqueue_attrs(9)
• work_pending(9)
• delayed_work_pending(9)
• alloc_workqueue(9)
• alloc_workqueue_lockdep_map(9)
• alloc_ordered_workqueue_lockdep_map(9)
• alloc_ordered_workqueue(9)
• queue_work(9)
• queue_delayed_work(9)
• mod_delayed_work(9)
• schedule_work_on(9)
• schedule_work(9)
• enable_and_queue_work(9)
• schedule_delayed_work_on(9)
• schedule_delayed_work(9)

---

and that's the page!! 🎀 sign-off time, mwah 💜 — this lil beauty lives in ./include/linux, dated October 2026, and it goes by devm_alloc_workqueue(9). go forth and manage your resources responsibly, bestie 🌈⭐