Re: [PATCH 00/15] lib: Add support for a decimal 0m prefix for numbers

From: Simon Glass <sjg@chromium.org>
To: Tom Rini <trini@konsulko.com>
Cc: "U-Boot Mailing List" <u-boot@lists.denx.de>,
	"Eugeniu Rosca" <erosca@de.adit-jv.com>,
	"Roland Gaudig" <roland.gaudig@weidmueller.com>,
	"Heinrich Schuchardt" <xypron.glpk@gmx.de>,
	"Stefan Herbrechtsmeier" <stefan.herbrechtsmeier@weidmueller.com>,
	"Sean Anderson" <seanga2@gmail.com>,
	"Marek Behún" <marek.behun@nic.cz>, "Marek Vasut" <marex@denx.de>,
	"Joe Hershberger" <joe.hershberger@ni.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH 00/15] lib: Add support for a decimal 0m prefix for numbers
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2021 12:33:14 -0600	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <CAPnjgZ0wtB4fo082KoGSvPy5bw3S_k7z512hS5SUrCaSQxXsBQ@mail.gmail.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20210720160547.GM9379@bill-the-cat>

Hi Tom.

On Tue, 20 Jul 2021 at 10:05, Tom Rini <trini@konsulko.com> wrote:
>
> On Tue, Jul 20, 2021 at 09:57:55AM -0600, Simon Glass wrote:
> > Hi Tom,
> >
> > On Tue, 20 Jul 2021 at 08:22, Tom Rini <trini@konsulko.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > On Tue, Jul 20, 2021 at 07:29:24AM -0600, Simon Glass wrote:
> > >
> > > > U-Boot mostly uses hex for value input, largely because addresses are much
> > > > easier to understand in hex.
> > > >
> > > > But in some cases a hex value is requested, but it is more convenient to
> > > > provide a decimal value. This may be because the value comes from another
> > > > source, where its base cannot be controlled.
> > > >
> > > > This series adds support for a 0m prefix to indicate a decimal number. The
> > >
> > > I _really_ don't want to invent something here.  When the setexpr thread
> > > came up before I went and did a little digging.  Per
> > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radix the general way to express a number
> > > is (x)y where x is the number and y is the base (and y is in base10, and
> > > also a subscript).  I thought it was a bit cumbersome for general use
> > > and didn't bring it up at the time.
> >
> > Well I don't want to invent something either...but what to do?
> >
> > So for example (10)123 would mean decimal 123? I don't know how we
> > would parse brackets separately from expressions though.
>
> (123)10 would be "123" in decimal.  Which is indeed a mouthful.  But it
> would also be generic and (123)16 would be 0x123.  So the parsing
> shouldn't be too hard, for most commands.  But then yes, expressions
> become quite hard.
>
> > > If we're going to add some global way to always say a number is decimal,
> > > and I'm not sure I think that's a good idea even (I kind of think it
> > > might be better on a case by case basis to maybe tweak some prints so
> > > that for example "ls mmc 0:10" tells the user it's accessing partition
> > > 16 would lead to a quick "oh that's hex, #$%@!"), I think it should
> > > follow the radix notation, or if not, some other well known example.
> >
> > Can you give examples for what you are thinking for radix notation?
>
> Well, since we don't have subscript in shell, '(number)base' would how
> it would be.  Which I'm not convinced is better than making it clear to
> users that almost everything is hex input, including a few places that
> might surprise you such as partition numbers.

After a bit of thought and digging, I think that is a mathematical
thing and confusing/unworkable on the command line.

Should we consider 0t for decimal?

>
> > BTW, quite a bit of the series is a clean-up, so can be reviewed separately.
>
> OK.
>
> --
> Tom

Regards,
Simon