drm_client_setup(9)

✨ drm_client_setup ✨

okay bestie so this page is straight out of the Kernel API Manual and it's literally about setting up in-kernel DRM clients 🎀 like that's the whole vibe. let's get into it 💅

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🌸 NAME 🌸

drm_client_setup — Setup in-kernel DRM clients 🦋

ok so it sets up the in-kernel DRM clients. that's it. that's the name. slay.

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

void drm_client_setup (struct drm_device *dev , const struct
drm_format_info *format );

like yes, two args, one function, no returns. she's giving "void and unbothered" 💀

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🎀 ARGUMENTS 🎀

• dev — the DRM device 👑 like, the whole device. the main character of this function call ngl.
• format — the Preferred pixel format for the device. and here's the tea 🍓: Use NULL, unless there is clearly a driver-preferred format. so default to NULL unless your driver genuinely has an opinion. don't be out here picking formats for no reason fr fr.

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💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

so this function sets up the in-kernel DRM clients. and the way that it handles restore, hotplug events and teardown — all of it, taken care of. she's lowkey doing everything so you don't have to 😭💅

here's the important timing bit bestie, do not skip: Drivers should call drm_client_setup after registering the new DRM device with drm_dev_register. after. not before. periodt.

and good news — this function is safe to call even when there are no connectors present. no connectors? no problem. 🙈 Setup will be retried on the next hotplug event, so it's not a loss, it's a "we'll circle back" 💜

also, the clients are destroyed by drm_dev_unregister. so that's where they go to rest. 🌈

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🦋 SEE ALSO 🦋

• Kernel file ./drivers/gpu/drm/clients/drm_client_setup.c
• drm_client_setup_with_fourcc(9)
• drm_client_setup_with_color_mode(9)

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and that's the whole page bestie, no cap 🧚💖 this one came from ./drivers/gpu/drm/clients, dated October 2026, living its best life in the Kernel API Manual 🎀 bye ily 🫶