[bpf-next,v2,4/4] libbpf: Document API and ABI conventions

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+.. SPDX-License-Identifier: GPL-2.0
+
+libbpf API naming convention
+============================
+
+libbpf API provides access to a few logically separated groups of
+functions and types. Every group has its own naming convention
+described here. It's recommended to follow these conventions whenever a
+new function or type is added to keep libbpf API clean and consistent.
+
+All types and functions provided by libbpf API should have one of the
+following prefixes: ``bpf_``, ``btf_``, ``libbpf_``.
+
+System call wrappers
+--------------------
+
+System call wrappers are simple wrappers for commands supported by
+sys_bpf system call. These wrappers should go to ``bpf.h`` header file
+and map one-on-one to corresponding commands.
+
+For example ``bpf_map_lookup_elem`` wraps ``BPF_MAP_LOOKUP_ELEM``
+command of sys_bpf, ``bpf_prog_attach`` wraps ``BPF_PROG_ATTACH``, etc.
+
+Objects
+-------
+
+Another class of types and functions provided by libbpf API is "objects"
+and functions to work with them. Objects are high-level abstractions
+such as BPF program or BPF map. They're represented by corresponding
+structures such as ``struct bpf_object``, ``struct bpf_program``,
+``struct bpf_map``, etc.
+
+Structures are forward declared and access to their fields should be
+provided via corresponding getters and setters rather than directly.
+
+These objects are associated with corresponding parts of ELF object that
+contains compiled BPF programs.
+
+For example ``struct bpf_object`` represents ELF object itself created
+from an ELF file or from a buffer, ``struct bpf_program`` represents a
+program in ELF object and ``struct bpf_map`` is a map.
+
+Functions that work with an object have names built from object name,
+double underscore and part that describes function purpose.
+
+For example ``bpf_object__open`` consists of the name of corresponding
+object, ``bpf_object``, double underscore and ``open`` that defines the
+purpose of the function to open ELF file and create ``bpf_object`` from
+it.
+
+Another example: ``bpf_program__load`` is named for corresponding
+object, ``bpf_program``, that is separated from other part of the name
+by double underscore.
+
+All objects and corresponding functions other than BTF related should go
+to ``libbpf.h``. BTF types and functions should go to ``btf.h``.
+
+Auxiliary functions
+-------------------
+
+Auxiliary functions and types that don't fit well in any of categories
+described above should have ``libbpf_`` prefix, e.g.
+``libbpf_get_error`` or ``libbpf_prog_type_by_name``.
+
+libbpf ABI
+==========
+
+libbpf can be both linked statically or used as DSO. To avoid possible
+conflicts with other libraries an application is linked with, all
+non-static libbpf symbols should have one of the prefixes mentioned in
+API documentation above. See API naming convention to choose the right
+name for a new symbol.
+
+Symbol visibility
+-----------------
+
+libbpf follow the model when all global symbols have visibility "hidden"
+by default and to make a symbol visible it has to be explicitly
+attributed with ``LIBBPF_API`` macro. For example:
+
+.. code-block:: c
+
+        LIBBPF_API int bpf_prog_get_fd_by_id(__u32 id);
+
+This prevents from accidentally exporting a symbol, that is not supposed
+to be a part of ABI what, in turn, improves both libbpf developer- and
+user-experiences.
+
+ABI versionning
+---------------
+
+To make future ABI extensions possible libbpf ABI is versioned.
+Versioning is implemented by ``libbpf.map`` version script that is
+passed to linker.
+
+Version name is ``LIBBPF_`` prefix + three-component numeric version,
+starting from ``0.0.1``.
+
+Every time ABI is being changed, e.g. because a new symbol is added or
+semantic of existing symbol is changed, ABI version should be bumped.
+
+For example, if current state of ``libbpf.map`` is:
+
+.. code-block::
+        LIBBPF_0.0.1 {
+        	global:
+                        bpf_func_a;
+                        bpf_func_b;
+        	local:
+        		\*;
+        };
+
+, and a new symbol ``bpf_func_c`` is being introduced, then
+``libbpf.map`` should be changed like this:
+
+.. code-block::
+        LIBBPF_0.0.1 {
+        	global:
+                        bpf_func_a;
+                        bpf_func_b;
+        	local:
+        		\*;
+        };
+        LIBBPF_0.0.2 {
+                global:
+                        bpf_func_c;
+        } LIBBPF_0.0.1;
+
+, where new version ``LIBBPF_0.0.2`` depends on the previous
+``LIBBPF_0.0.1``.
+
+Format of version script and ways to handle ABI changes, including
+incompatible ones, described in details in [1].
+
+Links
+=====
+
+[1] https://www.akkadia.org/drepper/dsohowto.pdf
+    (Chapter 3. Maintaining APIs and ABIs).