drmm_encoder_alloc(9)

💖 drmm_encoder_alloc — a.k.a. the Kernel API Manual glow-up 💖

okay so bestie, we're diving into drmm_encoder_alloc(9) from the kernel API manual, and honestly? it's giving "tiny function, big responsibilities." let's get into it 🎀

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✨ NAME ✨

drmm_encoder_alloc — Allocate and initialize an encoder. that's it, that's the whole vibe. 🦋

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🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

drmm_encoder_alloc (dev , type , member , funcs , encoder_type , name ,
... );

like, yes, there's a ... in there, it's a variadic moment, we love to see it ✨

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💅 ARGUMENTS 💅

• dev — the drm device. your main character device, basically 👑
• type — the type of the struct which contains struct drm_encoder. i.e. the wrapper struct, the bigger picture 🫶
• member — the name of the drm_encoder within type. yes, you literally pass the member name. it's a whole macro moment, iykyk 💀
• funcs — callbacks for this encoder (optional, so you can totally skip these and it's fine) 🌈
• encoder_type — user visible type of the encoder. the part the user actually sees, slay ✨
• name — printf style format string for the encoder name, or NULL for default name. your choice bestie 🎀
• ... — variable arguments. the little extras for that printf format string 🍓

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🧚 DESCRIPTION 🧚

so here's the tea: this thing allocates and initializes an encoder. fr fr, that's the whole job.

now the important part — the encoder should be subclassed as part of driver encoder objects. that's not optional energy, that's just how it's done 💜

and the cleanup? you don't even have to think about it, bestie, because it's automatically handled through registering drm_encoder_cleanup with drmm_add_action. the kernel literally has your back 🫶 no manual cleanup arc needed.

⚠️ okay but the one thing you CANNOT do: the drm_encoder_funcs.destroy hook must be NULL. like, must. not "should", not "ideally" — must. don't try it, don't be cute about it. 😭

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⭐ RETURN ⭐

Pointer to the new encoder, or ERR_PTR on failure. so like, always vibe check that pointer before you use it, okay? 💀

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🔥 SEE ALSO 🔥

Kernel file ./include/drm/drm_encoder.h plus the whole friend group:

• struct drm_encoder_funcs(9)
• struct drm_encoder(9)
• drmm_plain_encoder_alloc(9)
• drm_encoder_index(9)
• drm_encoder_mask(9)
• drm_encoder_crtc_ok(9)
• drm_encoder_find(9)
• drm_for_each_encoder_mask(9)
• drm_for_each_encoder(9)

go read them, they're all iconic in their own way 👑

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and that's the page, bestie!! 🦋 this lil beauty lives in ./include/drm and the source/version line says October 2026 — so mark your calendar, screenshot it, send it to the group chat, and remember: subclass your encoders, keep .destroy NULL, and stay hydrated 💖✨🎀