Is it possible to use "make menuconfig" ONLY for new options after a Kernel upgrade ?
 

Instead of doing
make oldconfig
make menuconfig

is there any other make rule so that after a kernel upgrade to use something like "make menuconfig" but only for new options from the new kernel version ???

if there is a way with "make xconfig" please refer to it :)

I don't think this is possible. However, new options are marked as "NEW" in the GUI, so you can quickly scan all screens for lines with "NEW" on it.

Yves.

Yeah, you really do need to review the whole set of options when you upgrade or recompile ... some "old" options might be inconsistent with or superseded by "new" ones, and also there might be some "new" stuff that you really don't want or need to use. It is possible to request a set of kernel options that results in a kernel that will not compile or install properly.

Always...

1. Keep a copy of every .config that you have ever used, or ever attempted. Keep it in an un-hidden file "somewhere else," outside of the main build-tree. Make the copy after you've finished making the config, and before you install from it, just so that you don't lose or misplace anything.
2. Change the name of each kernel, so that you do not over-write the one that you are running now.
3. Use diff to compare config-files to make sure that you made only the changes that you intended.
4. Keep a diary... do not rely upon your ... your ... oh dear, now what was I just saying? ... ;)

Why don't you want to use 'make oldconfig'? I think it asks for every new option (compared to the existing .config file).

that's what i use.I use oldconfig.
I just wonder if there is an oldconfig with the GUI of menuconfig or xconfig

TO be honest, I can't even imagine a way to handle oldconfig in a GUI. It would essentially just move from old setting to old setting... Would you want it to display only a menu of the new options?

just to config them in a way that i could use help to read more about it than having to go through the menuconfig process and search for "NEW" :)

When doing oldconfig, you CAN supply '?' as the result, and that will display the help information for the choice, then prompt you for Y/n/? again. Or Y/m/n/? or whatever.

If you choose '?' in make oldconfig, the same help text as in 'make xconfig/menuconfig' will be displayed to you.

thanks guys, i never met the days that there was only text configuration :)