[dpdk-dev] [PATCH v6 00/15] remove mbuf userdata

[Thomas Monjalon]

01/11/2020 00:36, Ferruh Yigit:
> On 10/31/2020 3:07 PM, Thomas Monjalon wrote:
> > 30/10/2020 18:44, Thomas Monjalon:
> >> The mbuf field userdata (aliased as udata64)
> >> was announced to be removed for two reasons:
> >>    - applications, libraries and drivers used the same field
> >>      for different purposes, with a risk of usage conflict.
> >>    - this field always used 8 bytes even if unneeded
> >>
> >> Some dynamic fields are created when needed to replace
> >> the big static userdata field.
> >> As a consequence, 8 bytes can be re-allocated to dynamic fields.
> >>
> >> This mbuf layout change is important to allow adding more features
> >> (consuming more dynamic fields) during the next year.
> > 
> > Applied
> 
> The new txgbe driver in the next-net is also using ‘udata64’, that also needs to 
> be updated. cc'ed txgbe maintainer.

That's a pity it did not take into account the deprecation notice.
What kind of hack is it used for?
Can it be simply removed to allow quick merging of the PMD?