[PATCH v1 01/21] ethdev: add flow graph API

[Thomas Monjalon]

26/08/2026 10:58, Burakov, Anatoly:
> On 8/25/2026 3:55 PM, Thomas Monjalon wrote:
> > 20/08/2026 16:00, Anatoly Burakov:
> >> This commit adds a flow graph parsing API. This is a helper API intended to
> >> help ethdev drivers implement rte_flow parsers, as common usages map to
> >> graph traversal problem very well.
> >>
> >> Features provided by the API:
> >> - Flow graph, edge, and node definitions
> >> - Graph traversal logic
> >> - Declarative validation against common flow item types
> >> - Per-node validation and state processing callbacks
> > [...]
> >>   lib/ethdev/rte_flow_graph.h                 | 532 ++++++++++++++
> > 
> > Are we sure about the name? Why not "parsing" instead of "graph"?
> > 
> 
> Because it is intended to help build *protocol graphs*, not *generic 
> flow parsing*. I.e. only things that lend themselves to be represented 
> by a graph would work with this - things like conntrack wouldn't. So, I 
> feel like "graph" is a more accurate name for this, because this is only 
> for enabling the protocol graph walk, not for full flow parsing.

OK

> > Is it only for drivers? In this case, no need to make it a public API.
> 
> Yes, it is for drivers. It is not a public API, it is not installed into 
> public headers. If there is anything I forgot to do to remove it from 
> being public, please let me know.

You should not use the rte_ prefix for files which are not public.
I know this convention is not well followed for historical reason,
like rte_flow_driver.h should be flow_driver.h