Re: [PATCH] char: rename CharBackend->CharFrontend

Paolo Bonzini <[email protected]> Tue, 21 Oct 2025 17:33:35 +0200

Newsgroups	dev.linux.lists.virtio-fs,org.nongnu.qemu-arm,org.nongnu.qemu-devel,org.nongnu.qemu-riscv,org.nongnu.qemu-rust,org.xenproject.lists.xen-devel
Message-ID	<[email protected]>

On 10/21/25 16:27, Marc-André Lureau wrote:
>>>>> I always thought the "frontend" was the device the guest
>>>>> saw (the 16650 UART or whatever). invocation.html has bits
>>>>> talking about "virtio hvc console frontend device" which
>>>>> seem like they also use that terminology.>>
>> Isn't it
>>
>> - backend -> host adapter
>> - frontend -> implementation used by guest

The frontend is whatever talks to the backend.  From QEMU's point of 
view it's the CharFrontend (which consists of a Chardev*, i.e. the 
backend, and some data identifying a specific frontend), from the user 
it could be /dev/hvc0 or whatever.

> Sort of, but I think it's too restrictive to name them after "host"
> and "guest", as they also have different purposes than strictly VM
> components/side usage.
> 
> I believe talking about backend and frontend is usually the preferred
> convention.
Yes, I agree.

Paolo