Re: Proposal: preflight checklist/lint for AI-assisted Linux kernel bug reports

On Fri, 29 May 2026 at 15:09, mo to <[email protected]> wrote:
> I understand that AI-assisted vulnerability and bug reports have
> recently become a burden for kernel maintainers, especially when
> reports are duplicated, unverified, or lack enough technical detail to
> be actionable.
>
> I would like to suggest a lightweight “preflight” process for
> AI-assisted bug reports.
>
> The goal is not to replace the existing Linux kernel email workflow,
> nor to move kernel development into a web-based ticket system.
> Instead, the idea is to add a simple validation layer before a report
> reaches maintainers.
>
> For AI-assisted reports, the submitter could be required to include a
> structured checklist such as:
>
> AI-assisted bug report checklist:

Which of the below are not suitable for a non-AI-assisted bug report?

> - Kernel version:
> - Commit hash:
> - Architecture:
> - Kernel config:

Do you always need the full .config?

> - Affected subsystem / file / function:
> - Reproducer:
> - Reproduction rate:
> - Full dmesg / KASAN / UBSAN / lockdep / syzkaller log:

Ouch.

Fortunately I didn't do that when reporting 'thousands of "sync_state()
pending due to" and hundreds of "deferred probe pending" messages'...

> - Checked latest mainline: yes/no
> - Checked stable trees: yes/no
> - Checked lore.kernel.org for duplicates: yes/no

Definitely! Also for mere humans.
(Hi nvram mutex fixes ;-)

> - Existing patch found: yes/no
> - Why this is considered a security issue:
> - Impact assessment:
> - Suggested fix or mitigation:
> - Human verification performed: yes/no

Perhaps only yes should be permitted?

Gr{oetje,eeting}s,

                        Geert

-- 
Geert Uytterhoeven -- There's lots of Linux beyond ia32 -- [email protected]

In personal conversations with technical people, I call myself a hacker. But
when I'm talking to journalists I just say "programmer" or something like that.
                                -- Linus Torvalds