ALSA: Implement the new Virtual PCM Test Driver

We have a lot of different virtual media drivers, which can be used for
testing of the userspace applications and media subsystem middle layer.
However, all of them are aimed at testing the video functionality and
simulating the video devices. For audio devices we have only snd-dummy
module, which is good in simulating the correct behavior of an ALSA device.
I decided to write a tool, which would help to test the userspace ALSA
programs (and the PCM middle layer as well) under unusual circumstances
to figure out how they would behave. So I came up with this Virtual PCM
Test Driver.

This new Virtual PCM Test Driver has several features which can be useful
during the userspace ALSA applications testing/fuzzing, or testing/fuzzing
of the PCM middle layer. Not all of them can be implemented using the
existing virtual drivers (like dummy or loopback). Here is what can this
driver do:

- Simulate both capture and playback processes
- Generate random or pattern-based capture data
- Inject delays into the playback and capturing processes
- Inject errors during the PCM callbacks

Also, this driver can check the playback stream for containing the
predefined pattern, which is used in the corresponding selftest to check
the PCM middle layer data transferring functionality. Additionally, this
driver redefines the default RESET ioctl, and the selftest covers this PCM
API functionality as well.

The driver supports both interleaved and non-interleaved access modes, and
have separate pattern buffers for each channel. The driver supports up to
4 channels and up to 8 substreams.

Signed-off-by: Ivan Orlov <ivan.orlov0322@gmail.com>
Acked-by: Jaroslav Kysela <perex@perex.cz>
Link: https://lore.kernel.org/r/20230606193254.20791-2-ivan.orlov0322@gmail.com
Signed-off-by: Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de>

1 files changed, 16 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/sound/drivers/Kconfig b/sound/drivers/Kconfig
index 864991d8776d..41c171468c1e 100644
--- a/sound/drivers/Kconfig
+++ b/sound/drivers/Kconfig
@@ -109,6 +109,22 @@ config SND_ALOOP
 	  To compile this driver as a module, choose M here: the module
 	  will be called snd-aloop.
 
+config SND_PCMTEST
+	tristate "Virtual PCM test driver"
+	select SND_PCM
+	help
+	  Say 'Y' or 'M' to include support for the Virtual PCM test driver.
+	  This driver is aimed at extended testing of the userspace applications
+	  which use the ALSA API, as well as the PCM middle layer testing.
+
+	  It can generate random or pattern-based data into the capture stream,
+	  check the playback stream for containing the selected pattern, inject
+	  time delays during capture/playback, redefine the RESET ioctl operation
+	  to perform the PCM middle layer testing and inject errors during the
+	  PCM callbacks. It supports both interleaved and non-interleaved access
+	  modes. You can find the corresponding selftest in the 'alsa'
+	  selftests folder.
+
 config SND_VIRMIDI
 	tristate "Virtual MIDI soundcard"
 	depends on SND_SEQUENCER