######### Concepts ######### .. _abi_artifacts_label: ABI artifacts ============= An ABI artifact is a relevant part of the ABI of a shared library or program. Examples of ABI artifacts are exported types, variables, functions, or `ELF`_ symbols exported by a shared library. The set of ABI artifact for a binary is called an ABI Corpus. .. _harmfulchangeconcept_label: Harmful changes =============== A change in the diff report is considered harmful if it might cause ABI compatibility issues. That is, it might prevent an application dynamically linked against a given version of a library to keep working with the changed subsequent versions of the same library. .. _harmlesschangeconcept_label: Harmless changes ================ A change in the diff report is considered harmless if it will not cause any ABI compatibility issue. That is, it will not prevent an application dynamically linked against given version of a library to keep working with the changed subsequent versions of the same library. By default, ``abidiff`` filters harmless changes from the diff report. .. _suppr_spec_label: Suppression specifications ========================== Definition ---------- A suppression specification file is a way for a user to instruct :ref:`abidiff `, :ref:`abipkgdiff ` or any other relevant libabigail tool to avoid emitting reports for changes involving certain :ref:`ABI artifacts`. It contains directives (or specifications) that describe the set of ABI artifacts to avoid emitting change reports about. Introductory examples --------------------- Its syntax is based on a simplified and customized form of `Ini File Syntax`_. For instance, to specify that change reports on a type named FooPrivateType should be suppressed, one could write this suppression specification: :: [suppress_type] name = FooPrivateType If we want to ensure that only change reports about structures named FooPrivateType should be suppressed, we could write: :: [suppress_type] type_kind = struct name = FooPrivateType But we could also want to suppress change reports avoid typedefs named FooPrivateType. In that case we would write: :: [suppress_type] type_kind = typedef name = FooPrivateType Or, we could want to suppress change reports about all struct which names end with the string "PrivateType": :: [suppress_type] type_kind = struct name_regexp = ^.*PrivateType Let's now look at the generic syntax of suppression specification files. Syntax ------ Properties ^^^^^^^^^^ More generally, the format of suppression lists is organized around the concept of `property`. Every property has a name and a value, delimited by the ``=`` sign. E.g: :: name = value Leading and trailing white spaces are ignored around property names and values. .. _suppr_regexp_label: Regular expressions ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The value of some properties might be a regular expression. In that case, they must comply with the syntax of `extended POSIX regular expressions `_. Note that Libabigail uses the regular expression engine of the `GNU C Library`_. Escaping a character in a regular expression ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ When trying to match a string that contains a ``*`` character, like in the pointer type ``int*``, one must be careful to notice that the character ``*`` is a special character in the extended POSIX regular expression syntax. And that character must be escaped for the regular expression engine. Thus the regular expression that would match the string ``int*`` in a suppression file should be :: int\\* Wait; but then why the two ``\`` characters? Well, because the ``\`` character is a special character in the `Ini File Syntax`_ used for specifying suppressions. So it must be escaped as well, so that the Ini File parser leaves a ``\`` character intact in the data stream that is handed to the regular expression engine. Hence the ``\\`` targeted at the Ini File parser. So, in short, to escape a character in a regular expression, always prefix the character with the ``\\`` sequence. Modus operandi ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Suppression specifications can be applied at two different points of the processing pipeline of libabigail. .. _late_suppression_mode_label: In the default operating mode called "late suppression mode", suppression specifications are applied to the result of comparing the in-memory internal representations of two ABIs. In this mode, if an ABI artifact matches a suppression specification, its changes are not mentioned in the ABI change report. The internal representation of the "suppressed" changed ABI artifact is still present in memory; it is just not mentioned in the ABI change report. The change report can still mention statistics about the number of changed ABI artifacts that were suppressed. .. _early_suppression_mode_label: There is another operating mode called the "early suppression mode" where suppression specifications are applied during the construction of the in-memory internal representation of a given ABI. In that mode, if an ABI artifact matches a suppression specification, no in-memory internal representation is built for it. As a result, no change about the matched ABI artifact is going to be mentioned in the ABI change report and no statistic about the number of suppressed ABI changes is available. Also, please note that because suppressed ABI artifacts are removed from the in-memory internal representation in this mode, the amount memory used by the internal representation is potentially smaller than the memory consumption in the late suppression mode. Sections ^^^^^^^^ Properties are then grouped into arbitrarily named sections that shall not be nested. The name of the section is on a line by itself and is surrounded by square brackets, i.e: :: [section_name] property1_name = property1_value property2_name = property2_value A section might or might not have properties. Sections that expect to have properties and which are found nonetheless empty are just ignored. Properties that are not recognized by the reader are ignored as well. Section names ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Each different section can be thought of as being a directive to suppress ABI change reports for a particular kind of ABI artifact. ``[suppress_file]`` $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ This directive prevents a given tool from loading a file (binary or abixml file) if its file name or other properties match certain properties. Thus, if the tool is meant to compare the ABIs of two files, and if the directive prevents it from loading either one of the files, then no comparison is performed. Note that for the ``[suppress_file]`` directive to work, at least one of the following properties must be provided: ``file_name_regexp``, ``file_name_not_regexp``, ``soname_regexp``, ``soname_not_regexp``. If none of the above properties are provided, then the ``[suppress_file]`` directive is simply ignored. The potential properties of this sections are listed below: * ``file_name_regexp`` Usage: ``file_name_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Prevents the system from loading the file which name matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``file_name_not_regexp`` Usage: ``file_name_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Prevents the system from loading the file which name does not match the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``soname_regexp`` Usage: ``soname_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Prevents the system from loading the file which contains a SONAME property that matches the regular expression of this property. Note that this property also works on an abixml file if it contains a SONAME property. * ``soname_not_regexp`` Usage: ``soname_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Prevents the system from loading the file which contains a SONAME property that does *NOT* match the regular expression of this property. Note that this property also works on an abixml file if it contains a SONAME property. * ``label`` Usage: ``label`` ``=`` Define a label for the section. A label is just an informative string that might be used by the tool to refer to a type suppression in error messages. ``[suppress_type]`` $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ This directive suppresses report messages about a type change. Note that for the ``[suppress_type]`` directive to work, at least one of the following properties must be provided: ``file_name_regexp``, ``file_name_not_regexp``, ``soname_regexp``, ``soname_not_regexp``, ``name``, ``name_regexp``, ``name_not_regexp``, ``type_kind``, ``source_location_not_in``, ``source_location_not_regexp``. If none of the above properties are provided, then the ``[suppress_type]`` directive is simply ignored. The potential properties of this sections are listed below: * ``file_name_regexp`` Usage: ``file_name_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports about ABI artifacts that are defined in a binary file which name matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``file_name_not_regexp`` Usage: ``file_name_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports about ABI artifacts that are defined in a binary file which name does not match the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``soname_regexp`` Usage: ``soname_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports about ABI artifacts that are defined in a shared library which SONAME property matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``soname_not_regexp`` Usage: ``soname_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports about ABI artifacts that are defined in a shared library which SONAME property does not match the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``name_regexp`` Usage: ``name_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving types whose name matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``name_not_regexp`` Usage: ``name_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving types whose name does *NOT* match the regular expression specified as value of this property. Said otherwise, this property specifies which types to keep, rather than types to suppress from reports. * ``name`` Usage: ``name`` ``=`` Suppresses change reports involving types whose name equals the value of this property. * ``type_kind`` Usage: ``type_kind`` ``=`` ``class`` | ``struct`` | ``union`` | ``enum`` | ``array`` | ``typedef`` | ``builtin`` Suppresses change reports involving a certain kind of type. The kind of type to suppress change reports for is specified by the possible values listed above: - ``class``: suppress change reports for class types. Note that even if class types don't exist for C, this value still triggers the suppression of change reports for struct types, in C. In C++ however, it should do what it suggests. - ``struct``: suppress change reports for struct types in C or C++. Note that the value ``class`` above is a super-set of this one. - ``union``: suppress change reports for union types. - ``enum``: suppress change reports for enum types. - ``array``: suppress change reports for array types. - ``typedef``: suppress change reports for typedef types. - ``builtin``: suppress change reports for built-in (or native) types. Example of built-in types are char, int, unsigned int, etc. .. _suppr_source_location_not_in_label: * ``source_location_not_in`` Usage: ``source_location_not_in`` ``=`` <``list-of-file-paths``> Suppresses change reports involving a type which is defined in a file which path is *NOT* listed in the value ``list-of-file-paths``. Note that the value is a comma-separated list of file paths e.g, this property :: source_location_not_in = libabigail/abg-ir.h, libabigail/abg-dwarf-reader.h suppresses change reports about all the types that are *NOT* defined in header files whose path end up with the strings libabigail/abg-ir.h or libabigail/abg-dwarf-reader.h. .. _suppr_source_location_not_regexp_label: * ``source_location_not_regexp`` Usage: ``source_location_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving a type which is defined in a file which path does *NOT* match the :ref:`regular expression ` provided as value of the property. E.g, this property :: source_location_not_regexp = libabigail/abg-.*\\.h suppresses change reports involving all the types that are *NOT* defined in header files whose path match the regular expression provided a value of the property. .. _suppr_has_data_member_inserted_at_label: * ``has_data_member_inserted_at`` Usage: ``has_data_member_inserted_at`` ``=`` <``offset-in-bit``> Suppresses change reports involving a type which has at least one data member inserted at an offset specified by the property value ``offset-in-bit``. The value ``offset-in-bit`` is either: - an integer value, expressed in bits, which denotes the offset of the insertion point of the data member, starting from the beginning of the relevant structure or class. - the keyword ``end`` which is a named constant which value equals the offset of the end of the of the structure or class. - the function call expression ``offset_of(data-member-name)`` where `data-member-name` is the name of a given data member of the relevant structure or class. The value of this function call expression is an integer that represents the offset of the data member denoted by ``data-member-name``. - the function call expression ``offset_after(data-member-name)`` where `data-member-name` is the name of a given data member of the relevant structure or class. The value of this function call expression is an integer that represents the offset of the point that comes right after the region occupied by the data member denoted by ``data-member-name``. .. _suppr_has_data_member_inserted_between_label: * ``has_data_member_inserted_between`` Usage: ``has_data_member_inserted_between`` ``=`` {<``range-begin``>, <``range-end``>} Suppresses change reports involving a type which has at least one data mber inserted at an offset that is comprised in the range between range-begin`` and ``range-end``. Please note that each of the lues ``range-begin`` and ``range-end`` can be of the same form as the :ref:`has_data_member_inserted_at ` property above. Usage examples of this properties are: :: has_data_member_inserted_between = {8, 64} or: :: has_data_member_inserted_between = {16, end} or: :: has_data_member_inserted_between = {offset_after(member1), end} .. _suppr_has_data_members_inserted_between_label: * ``has_data_members_inserted_between`` Usage: ``has_data_members_inserted_between`` ``=`` {} Suppresses change reports involving a type which has multiple data member inserted in various offset ranges. A usage example of this property is, for instance: :: has_data_members_inserted_between = {{8, 31}, {72, 95}} This usage example suppresses change reports involving a type which has data members inserted in bit offset ranges [8 31] and [72 95]. The length of the sequence of ranges or this ``has_data_members_inserted_between`` is not bounded; it can be as long as the system can cope with. The values of the boundaries of the ranges are of the same kind as for the :ref:`has_data_member_inserted_at ` property above. Another usage example of this property is thus: :: has_data_members_inserted_between = { {offset_after(member0), offset_of(member1)}, {72, end} } .. _suppr_accessed_through_property_label: * ``accessed_through`` Usage: ``accessed_through`` ``=`` Suppress change reports involving a type which is referred to either directly or through a pointer or a reference. The potential values of this property are the predefined keywords below: * ``direct`` So if the ``[suppress_type]`` contains the property description: :: accessed_through = direct then changes about a type that is referred-to directly (i.e, not through a pointer or a reference) are going to be suppressed. * ``pointer`` If the ``accessed_through`` property is set to the value ``pointer`` then changes about a type that is referred-to through a pointer are going to be suppressed. * ``reference`` If the ``accessed_through`` property is set to the value ``reference`` then changes about a type that is referred-to through a reference are going to be suppressed. * ``reference-or-pointer`` If the ``accessed_through`` property is set to the value ``reference-or-pointer`` then changes about a type that is referred-to through either a reference or a pointer are going to be suppressed. For an extensive example of how to use this property, please check out the example below about :ref:`suppressing change reports about types accessed either directly or through pointers `. * ``drop`` Usage: ``drop`` ``=`` yes | no If a type is matched by a suppression specification which contains the "drop" property set to "yes" (or to "true") then the type is not even going to be represented in the internal representation of the ABI being analyzed. This property makes its enclosing suppression specification to be applied in the :ref:`early suppression specification mode `. The net effect is that it potentially reduces the memory used to represent the ABI being analyzed. Please note that for this property to be effective, the enclosing suppression specification must have at least one of the following properties specified: ``name_regexp``, ``name``, ``name_regexp``, ``source_location_not_in`` or ``source_location_not_regexp``. .. _suppr_label_property_label: * ``label`` Usage: ``label`` ``=`` Define a label for the section. A label is just an informative string that might be used by a tool to refer to a type suppression in error messages. .. _suppr_changed_enumerators_label: * ``changed_enumerators`` Usage: ``changed_enumerators`` ``=`` Suppresses change reports involving changes in the value of enumerators of a given enum type. This property is applied if the ``type_kind`` property is set to the value ``enum``, at least. The value of the ``changed_enumerators`` is a comma-separated list of the enumerators that the user expects to change. For instance: :: changed_enumerators = LAST_ENUMERATORS0, LAST_ENUMERATOR1 ``[suppress_function]`` $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ This directive suppresses report messages about changes on a set of functions. Note that for the ``[suppress_function]`` directive to work, at least one of the following properties must be provided: ``label``, ``file_name_regexp``, ``file_name_not_regexp``, ``soname_regexp``, ``soname_not_regexp``, ``name``, ``name_regexp``, ``name_not_regexp``, ``parameter``, ``return_type_name``, ``return_type_regexp``, ``symbol_name``, ``symbol_name_regexp``, ``symbol_name_not_regexp``, ``symbol_version``, ``symbol_version_regexp``. If none of the above properties are provided, then the ``[suppress_function]`` directive is simply ignored. The potential properties of this sections are: * ``label`` Usage: ``label`` ``=`` This property is the same as the :ref:`label property ` defined above. * ``file_name_regexp`` Usage: ``file_name_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports about ABI artifacts that are defined in a binary file which name matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``file_name_not_regexp`` Usage: ``file_name_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports about ABI artifacts that are defined in a binary file which name does not match the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``soname_regexp`` Usage: ``soname_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports about ABI artifacts that are defined in a shared library which SONAME property matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``soname_not_regexp`` Usage: ``soname_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports about ABI artifacts that are defined in a shared library which SONAME property does not match the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``name`` Usage: ``name`` ``=`` Suppresses change reports involving functions whose name equals the value of this property. * ``name_regexp`` Usage: ``name_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving functions whose name matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. Let's consider the case of functions that have several symbol names. This happens when the underlying symbol for the function has aliases. Each symbol name is actually one alias name. In this case, if the regular expression matches the name of at least one of the aliases names, then it must match the names of all of the aliases of the function for the directive to actually suppress the diff reports for said function. * ``name_not_regexp`` Usage: ``name_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving functions whose names don't match the regular expression specified as value of this property. The rules for functions that have several symbol names are the same rules as for the ``name_regexp`` property above. .. _suppr_change_kind_property_label: * ``change_kind`` Usage: ``change_kind`` ``=`` Specifies the kind of changes this suppression specification should apply to. The possible values of this property as well as their meaning are listed below: - ``function-subtype-change`` This suppression specification applies to functions that which have at least one sub-type that has changed. - ``added-function`` This suppression specification applies to functions that have been added to the binary. - ``deleted-function`` This suppression specification applies to functions that have been removed from the binary. - ``all`` This suppression specification applies to functions that have all of the changes above. Note that not providing the ``change_kind`` property at all is equivalent to setting it to the value ``all``. * ``parameter`` Usage: ``parameter`` ``=`` Suppresses change reports involving functions whose parameters match the parameter specification indicated as value of this property. The format of the function parameter specification is: ``'`` ```` ```` ```` That is, an apostrophe followed by a number that is the index of the parameter, followed by one of several spaces, followed by either the name of the type of the parameter, or a regular expression describing a family of parameter type names. If the parameter type name is designated by a regular expression, then said regular expression must be enclosed between two slashes; like ``/some-regular-expression/``. The index of the first parameter of the function is zero. Note that for member functions (methods of classes), the this is the first parameter that comes after the implicit "this" pointer parameter. Examples of function parameter specifications are: :: '0 int Which means, the parameter at index 0, whose type name is ``int``. :: '4 unsigned char* Which means, the parameter at index 4, whose type name is ``unsigned char*``. :: '2 /^foo.*&/ Which means, the parameter at index 2, whose type name starts with the string "foo" and ends with an '&'. In other words, this is the third parameter and it's a reference on a type that starts with the string "foo". * ``return_type_name`` Usage: ``return_type_name`` ``=`` Suppresses change reports involving functions whose return type name equals the value of this property. * ``return_type_regexp`` Usage: ``return_type_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving functions whose return type name matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``symbol_name`` Usage: ``symbol_name`` ``=`` Suppresses change reports involving functions whose symbol name equals the value of this property. * ``symbol_name_regexp`` Usage: ``symbol_name_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving functions whose symbol name matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. Let's consider the case of functions that have several symbol names. This happens when the underlying symbol for the function has aliases. Each symbol name is actually one alias name. In this case, the regular expression must match the names of all of the aliases of the function for the directive to actually suppress the diff reports for said function. * ``symbol_name_not_regexp`` Usage: ``symbol_name_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving functions whose symbol name does not match the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``symbol_version`` Usage: ``symbol_version`` ``=`` Suppresses change reports involving functions whose symbol version equals the value of this property. * ``symbol_version_regexp`` Usage: ``symbol_version_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving functions whose symbol version matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``drop`` Usage: ``drop`` ``=`` yes | no If a function is matched by a suppression specification which contains the "drop" property set to "yes" (or to "true") then the function is not even going to be represented in the internal representation of the ABI being analyzed. This property makes its enclosing suppression specification to be applied in the :ref:`early suppression specification mode `. The net effect is that it potentially reduces the memory used to represent the ABI being analyzed. Please note that for this property to be effective, the enclosing suppression specification must have at least one of the following properties specified: ``name_regexp``, ``name``, ``name_regexp``, ``source_location_not_in`` or ``source_location_not_regexp``. ``[suppress_variable]`` $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ This directive suppresses report messages about changes on a set of variables. Note that for the ``[suppress_variable]`` directive to work, at least one of the following properties must be provided: ``label``, ``file_name_regexp``, ``file_name_not_regexp``, ``soname_regexp``, ``soname_not_regexp``, ``name``, ``name_regexp``, ``name_not_regexp``, ``symbol_name``, ``symbol_name_regexp``, ``symbol_name_not_regexp``, ``symbol_version``, ``symbol_version_regexp``, ``type_name``, ``type_name_regexp``. If none of the above properties are provided, then the ``[suppress_variable]`` directive is simply ignored. The potential properties of this sections are: * ``label`` Usage: ``label`` ``=`` This property is the same as the :ref:`label property ` defined above. * ``file_name_regexp`` Usage: ``file_name_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports about ABI artifacts that are defined in a binary file which name matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``file_name_not_regexp`` Usage: ``file_name_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports about ABI artifacts that are defined in a binary file which name does not match the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``soname_regexp`` Usage: ``soname_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports about ABI artifacts that are defined in a shared library which SONAME property matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``soname_not_regexp`` Usage: ``soname_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports about ABI artifacts that are defined in a shared library which SONAME property does not match the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``name`` Usage: ``name`` ``=`` Suppresses change reports involving variables whose name equals the value of this property. * ``name_regexp`` Usage: ``name_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving variables whose name matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``change_kind`` Usage: ``change_kind`` ``=`` Specifies the kind of changes this suppression specification should apply to. The possible values of this property as well as their meaning are the same as when it's :ref:`used in the [suppress_function] section `. * ``symbol_name`` Usage: ``symbol_name`` ``=`` Suppresses change reports involving variables whose symbol name equals the value of this property. * symbol_name_regexp Usage: ``symbol_name_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving variables whose symbol name matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``symbol_name_not_regexp`` Usage: ``symbol_name_not_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving variables whose symbol name does not match the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``symbol_version`` Usage: ``symbol_version`` ``=`` Suppresses change reports involving variables whose symbol version equals the value of this property. * ``symbol_version_regexp`` Usage: ``symbol_version_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving variables whose symbol version matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. * ``type_name`` Usage: ``type_name`` ``=`` Suppresses change reports involving variables whose type name equals the value of this property. * ``type_name_regexp`` Usage: ``type_name_regexp`` ``=`` <:ref:`regular-expression `> Suppresses change reports involving variables whose type name matches the regular expression specified as value of this property. Comments ^^^^^^^^ ``;`` or ``#`` ASCII character at the beginning of a line indicates a comment. Comment lines are ignored. Code examples ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1. Suppressing change reports about types. Suppose we have a library named ``libtest1-v0.so`` which contains this very useful code: :: $ cat -n test1-v0.cc 1 // A forward declaration for a type considered to be opaque to 2 // function foo() below. 3 struct opaque_type; 4 5 // This function cannot touch any member of opaque_type. Hence, 6 // changes to members of opaque_type should not impact foo, as far as 7 // ABI is concerned. 8 void 9 foo(opaque_type*) 10 { 11 } 12 13 struct opaque_type 14 { 15 int member0; 16 char member1; 17 }; $ Let's change the layout of struct opaque_type by inserting a data member around line 15, leading to a new version of the library, that we shall name ``libtest1-v1.so``: :: $ cat -n test1-v1.cc 1 // A forward declaration for a type considered to be opaque to 2 // function foo() below. 3 struct opaque_type; 4 5 // This function cannot touch any member of opaque_type; Hence, 6 // changes to members of opaque_type should not impact foo, as far as 7 // ABI is concerned. 8 void 9 foo(opaque_type*) 10 { 11 } 12 13 struct opaque_type 14 { 15 char added_member; // <-- a new member got added here now. 16 int member0; 17 char member1; 18 }; $ Let's compile both examples. We shall not forget to compile them with debug information generation turned on: :: $ g++ -shared -g -Wall -o libtest1-v0.so test1-v0.cc $ g++ -shared -g -Wall -o libtest1-v1.so test1-v1.cc Let's ask :ref:`abidiff ` which ABI differences it sees between ``libtest1-v0.so`` and ``libtest1-v1.so``: :: $ abidiff libtest1-v0.so libtest1-v1.so Functions changes summary: 0 Removed, 1 Changed, 0 Added function Variables changes summary: 0 Removed, 0 Changed, 0 Added variable 1 function with some indirect sub-type change: [C]'function void foo(opaque_type*)' has some indirect sub-type changes: parameter 0 of type 'opaque_type*' has sub-type changes: in pointed to type 'struct opaque_type': size changed from 64 to 96 bits 1 data member insertion: 'char opaque_type::added_member', at offset 0 (in bits) 2 data member changes: 'int opaque_type::member0' offset changed from 0 to 32 'char opaque_type::member1' offset changed from 32 to 64 So ``abidiff`` reports that the opaque_type's layout has changed in a significant way, as far as ABI implications are concerned, in theory. After all, a sub-type (``struct opaque_type``) of an exported function (``foo()``) has seen its layout change. This might have non negligible ABI implications. But in practice here, the programmer of the litest1-v1.so library knows that the "soft" contract between the function ``foo()`` and the type ``struct opaque_type`` is to stay away from the data members of the type. So layout changes of ``struct opaque_type`` should not impact ``foo()``. Now to teach ``abidiff`` about this soft contract and have it avoid emitting what amounts to false positives in this case, we write the suppression specification file below: :: $ cat test1.suppr [suppress_type] type_kind = struct name = opaque_type Translated in plain English, this suppression specification would read: "Do not emit change reports about a struct which name is opaque_type". Let's now invoke ``abidiff`` on the two versions of the library again, but this time with the suppression specification: :: $ abidiff --suppressions test1.suppr libtest1-v0.so libtest1-v1.so Functions changes summary: 0 Removed, 0 Changed (1 filtered out), 0 Added function Variables changes summary: 0 Removed, 0 Changed, 0 Added variable As you can see, ``abidiff`` does not report the change anymore; it tells us that it was filtered out instead. Suppressing change reports about types with data member insertions Suppose the first version of a library named ``libtest3-v0.so`` has this source code: :: /* Compile this with: gcc -g -Wall -shared -o libtest3-v0.so test3-v0.c */ struct S { char member0; int member1; /* between member1 and member2, there is some padding, at least on some popular platforms. On these platforms, adding a small enough data member into that padding shouldn't change the offset of member1. Right? */ }; int foo(struct S* s) { return s->member0 + s->member1; } Now, suppose the second version of the library named ``libtest3-v1.so`` has this source code in which a data member has been added in the padding space of struct S and another data member has been added at its end: :: /* Compile this with: gcc -g -Wall -shared -o libtest3-v1.so test3-v1.c */ struct S { char member0; char inserted1; /* <---- A data member has been added here... */ int member1; char inserted2; /* <---- ... and another one has been added here. */ }; int foo(struct S* s) { return s->member0 + s->member1; } In libtest3-v1.so, adding char data members ``S::inserted1`` and ``S::inserted2`` can be considered harmless (from an ABI compatibility perspective), at least on the x86 platform, because that doesn't change the offsets of the data members S::member0 and S::member1. But then running ``abidiff`` on these two versions of library yields: :: $ abidiff libtest3-v0.so libtest3-v1.so Functions changes summary: 0 Removed, 1 Changed, 0 Added function Variables changes summary: 0 Removed, 0 Changed, 0 Added variable 1 function with some indirect sub-type change: [C]'function int foo(S*)' has some indirect sub-type changes: parameter 0 of type 'S*' has sub-type changes: in pointed to type 'struct S': type size changed from 64 to 96 bits 2 data member insertions: 'char S::inserted1', at offset 8 (in bits) 'char S::inserted2', at offset 64 (in bits) $ That is, ``abidiff`` shows us the two changes, even though we (the developers of that very involved library) know that these changes are harmless in this particular context. Luckily, we can devise a suppression specification that essentially tells abidiff to filter out change reports about adding a data member between ``S::member0`` and ``S::member1``, and adding a data member at the end of struct S. We have written such a suppression specification in a file called test3-1.suppr and it unsurprisingly looks like: :: [suppress_type] name = S has_data_member_inserted_between = {offset_after(member0), offset_of(member1)} has_data_member_inserted_at = end Now running ``abidiff`` with this suppression specification yields: :: $ ../build/tools/abidiff --suppressions test3-1.suppr libtest3-v0.so libtest3-v1.so Functions changes summary: 0 Removed, 0 Changed (1 filtered out), 0 Added function Variables changes summary: 0 Removed, 0 Changed, 0 Added variable $ Hooora! \\o/ (I guess) .. _example_accessed_through_label: Suppressing change reports about types accessed either directly or through pointers Suppose we have a first version of an object file which source code is the file widget-v0.cc below: :: // Compile with: g++ -g -c widget-v0.cc struct widget { int x; int y; widget() :x(), y() {} }; void fun0(widget*) { // .. do stuff here. } void fun1(widget&) { // .. do stuff here .. } void fun2(widget w) { // ... do other stuff here ... } Now suppose in the second version of that file, named widget-v1.cc, we have added some data members at the end of the type ``struct widget``; here is what the content of that file would look like: :: // Compile with: g++ -g -c widget-v1.cc struct widget { int x; int y; int w; // We have added these two new data members here .. int h; // ... and here. widget() : x(), y(), w(), h() {} }; void fun0(widget*) { // .. do stuff here. } void fun1(widget&) { // .. do stuff here .. } void fun2(widget w) { // ... do other stuff here ... } When we invoke ``abidiff`` on the object files resulting from the compilation of the two file above, here is what we get: :: $ abidiff widget-v0.o widget-v1.o Functions changes summary: 0 Removed, 2 Changed (1 filtered out), 0 Added functions Variables changes summary: 0 Removed, 0 Changed, 0 Added variable 2 functions with some indirect sub-type change: [C]'function void fun0(widget*)' has some indirect sub-type changes: parameter 1 of type 'widget*' has sub-type changes: in pointed to type 'struct widget': type size changed from 64 to 128 bits 2 data member insertions: 'int widget::w', at offset 64 (in bits) 'int widget::h', at offset 96 (in bits) [C]'function void fun2(widget)' has some indirect sub-type changes: parameter 1 of type 'struct widget' has sub-type changes: details were reported earlier $ I guess a little bit of explaining is due here. ``abidiff`` detects that two data member got added at the end of ``struct widget``. it also tells us that the type change impacts the exported function ``fun0()`` which uses the type ``struct widget`` through a pointer, in its signature. Careful readers will notice that the change to ``struct widget`` also impacts the exported function ``fun1()``, that uses type ``struct widget`` through a reference. But then ``abidiff`` doesn't tell us about the impact on that function ``fun1()`` because it has evaluated that change as being **redundant** with the change it reported on ``fun0()``. It has thus filtered it out, to avoid cluttering the output with noise. Redundancy detection and filtering is fine and helpful to avoid burying the important information in a sea of noise. However, it must be treated with care, by fear of mistakenly filtering out relevant and important information. That is why ``abidiff`` tells us about the impact that the change to ``struct widget`` has on function ``fun2()``. In this case, that function uses the type ``struct widget`` **directly** (in its signature). It does not use it via a pointer or a reference. In this case, the direct use of this type causes ``fun2()`` to be exposed to a potentially harmful ABI change. Hence, the report about ``fun2()`` is not filtered out, even though it's about that same change on ``struct widget``. To go further in suppressing reports about changes that are harmless and keeping only those that we know are harmful, we would like to go tell abidiff to suppress reports about this particular ``struct widget`` change when it impacts uses of ``struct widget`` through a pointer or reference. In other words, suppress the change reports about ``fun0()`` **and** ``fun1()``. We would then write this suppression specification, in file ``widget.suppr``: :: [suppress_type] name = widget type_kind = struct has_data_member_inserted_at = end accessed_through = reference-or-pointer # So this suppression specification says to suppress reports about # the type 'struct widget', if this type was added some data member # at its end, and if the change impacts uses of the type through a # reference or a pointer. Invoking ``abidiff`` on ``widget-v0.o`` and ``widget-v1.o`` with this suppression specification yields: :: $ abidiff --suppressions widget.suppr widget-v0.o widget-v1.o Functions changes summary: 0 Removed, 1 Changed (2 filtered out), 0 Added function Variables changes summary: 0 Removed, 0 Changed, 0 Added variable 1 function with some indirect sub-type change: [C]'function void fun2(widget)' has some indirect sub-type changes: parameter 1 of type 'struct widget' has sub-type changes: type size changed from 64 to 128 bits 2 data member insertions: 'int widget::w', at offset 64 (in bits) 'int widget::h', at offset 96 (in bits) $ As expected, I guess. Suppressing change reports about functions. Suppose we have a first version a library named ``libtest2-v0.so`` whose source code is: :: $ cat -n test2-v0.cc 1 struct S1 2 { 3 int m0; 4 5 S1() 6 : m0() 7 {} 8 }; 9 10 struct S2 11 { 12 int m0; 13 14 S2() 15 : m0() 16 {} 17 }; 18 19 struct S3 20 { 21 int m0; 22 23 S3() 24 : m0() 25 {} 26 }; 27 28 int 29 func(S1&) 30 { 31 // suppose the code does something with the argument. 32 return 0; 33 34 } 35 36 char 37 func(S2*) 38 { 39 // suppose the code does something with the argument. 40 return 0; 41 } 42 43 unsigned 44 func(S3) 45 { 46 // suppose the code does something with the argument. 47 return 0; 48 } $ And then we come up with a second version ``libtest2-v1.so`` of that library; the source code is modified by making the structures ``S1``, ``S2``, ``S3`` inherit another struct: :: $ cat -n test2-v1.cc 1 struct base_type 2 { 3 int m_inserted; 4 }; 5 6 struct S1 : public base_type // <--- S1 now has base_type as its base 7 // type. 8 { 9 int m0; 10 11 S1() 12 : m0() 13 {} 14 }; 15 16 struct S2 : public base_type // <--- S2 now has base_type as its base 17 // type. 18 { 19 int m0; 20 21 S2() 22 : m0() 23 {} 24 }; 25 26 struct S3 : public base_type // <--- S3 now has base_type as its base 27 // type. 28 { 29 int m0; 30 31 S3() 32 : m0() 33 {} 34 }; 35 36 int 37 func(S1&) 38 { 39 // suppose the code does something with the argument. 40 return 0; 41 42 } 43 44 char 45 func(S2*) 46 { 47 // suppose the code does something with the argument. 48 return 0; 49 } 50 51 unsigned 52 func(S3) 53 { 54 // suppose the code does something with the argument. 55 return 0; 56 } $ Now let's build the two libraries: :: g++ -Wall -g -shared -o libtest2-v0.so test2-v0.cc g++ -Wall -g -shared -o libtest2-v0.so test2-v0.cc Let's look at the output of ``abidiff``: :: $ abidiff libtest2-v0.so libtest2-v1.so Functions changes summary: 0 Removed, 3 Changed, 0 Added functions Variables changes summary: 0 Removed, 0 Changed, 0 Added variable 3 functions with some indirect sub-type change: [C]'function unsigned int func(S3)' has some indirect sub-type changes: parameter 0 of type 'struct S3' has sub-type changes: size changed from 32 to 64 bits 1 base class insertion: struct base_type 1 data member change: 'int S3::m0' offset changed from 0 to 32 [C]'function char func(S2*)' has some indirect sub-type changes: parameter 0 of type 'S2*' has sub-type changes: in pointed to type 'struct S2': size changed from 32 to 64 bits 1 base class insertion: struct base_type 1 data member change: 'int S2::m0' offset changed from 0 to 32 [C]'function int func(S1&)' has some indirect sub-type changes: parameter 0 of type 'S1&' has sub-type changes: in referenced type 'struct S1': size changed from 32 to 64 bits 1 base class insertion: struct base_type 1 data member change: 'int S1::m0' offset changed from 0 to 32 $ Let's tell ``abidiff`` to avoid showing us the differences on the overloads of ``func`` that takes either a pointer or a reference. For that, we author this simple suppression specification: :: $ cat -n libtest2.suppr 1 [suppress_function] 2 name = func 3 parameter = '0 S1& 4 5 [suppress_function] 6 name = func 7 parameter = '0 S2* $ And then let's invoke ``abidiff`` with the suppression specification: :: $ ../build/tools/abidiff --suppressions libtest2.suppr libtest2-v0.so libtest2-v1.so Functions changes summary: 0 Removed, 1 Changed (2 filtered out), 0 Added function Variables changes summary: 0 Removed, 0 Changed, 0 Added variable 1 function with some indirect sub-type change: [C]'function unsigned int func(S3)' has some indirect sub-type changes: parameter 0 of type 'struct S3' has sub-type changes: size changed from 32 to 64 bits 1 base class insertion: struct base_type 1 data member change: 'int S3::m0' offset changed from 0 to 32 The suppression specification could be reduced using :ref:`regular expressions `: :: $ cat -n libtest2-1.suppr 1 [suppress_function] 2 name = func 3 parameter = '0 /^S.(&|\\*)/ $ $ ../build/tools/abidiff --suppressions libtest2-1.suppr libtest2-v0.so libtest2-v1.so Functions changes summary: 0 Removed, 1 Changed (2 filtered out), 0 Added function Variables changes summary: 0 Removed, 0 Changed, 0 Added variable 1 function with some indirect sub-type change: [C]'function unsigned int func(S3)' has some indirect sub-type changes: parameter 0 of type 'struct S3' has sub-type changes: size changed from 32 to 64 bits 1 base class insertion: struct base_type 1 data member change: 'int S3::m0' offset changed from 0 to 32 $ .. _ELF: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executable_and_Linkable_Format .. _Ini File Syntax: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INI_file .. _GNU C Library: http://www.gnu.org/software/libc