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List:       kernel-janitors
Subject:    Re: [Lse-tech] locking document available for review soon
From:       Christoph Hellwig <hch () ns ! caldera ! de>
Date:       2001-05-16 17:09:46
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Hi,

I think this list might be very interesting input for the kernel janitors.
For the janitors not on lse-tech, the url of the refernced doc is
http://lse.sourceforge.net/lockhier/global-spin-lock

	Christoph


On Tue, May 15, 2001 at 11:28:56AM -0700, Rick Lindsley wrote:
> I've produced the first draft of a document which can begin to describe
> the locks in use in the Linux kernel, and I encourage the LSE community
> to review it and send me comments. I've asked the maintainers of the
> project to place it in a public location there so it can be easily
> viewed.  Although it's in plain text right now, it's over 1900 lines
> long or I'd just include it in this message.)
> 
> The philosophy of why I feel this document is necessary is explained in
> the first few paragraphs of the document itself, so I won't repeat it
> here. The document itself is more of a reference document than a paper,
> but that's intentional for the first draft.  Once we establish the
> "correct" use of the various locks in use in the system, we can then
> spend time discussing incorrect or unnecessary usages. Before we agree
> on "correct" usage, such discussions can become quite philosophical.
> 
> The goal of the review process, though, is to insure accuracy while
> minimizing the impact to any one developer. Many of you who have
> volunteered have other irons in the fire, and I want to use your time
> efficiently. So I emphasize that I'm not asking any one person to
> review the entire document -- please review those locks that you
> believe you understand already and verify that I've interpreted them
> correctly. Note that the r/w locks are only half finished; although I
> believe there's only a few more hours work there, I really wanted to
> get this out NOW and avoid putting it off while working on "just one
> more thing."
> 
> The remaining uses of the Big Kernel Lock are especially enigmatic.  If
> anyone feels qualified to comment on any remaining, legitimate uses for
> the BKL, please do elaborate. My default belief, right now, is that all
> the current uses are either incorrect, unnecessary, or due to be so
> very soon (although I've not inserted this opinion into the document
> quite so succinctly.)
> 
> One more topic I encourage you to comment on is support. My original
> intention was that this become a document submitted for inclusion in
> usr/src/Documentation, and that it then be maintained on an ongoing basis
> either by myself or another. (Yes I volunteer, initially.)  If you have
> thoughts on format, enhancements, or support issues please do include
> that in your comments.  Simply to provide a starting point, I'll take the
> position right now that it be updated no more frequently than quarterly
> and quite possibly less frequently. Updates will necessarily follow any
> new release by a minimum of six weeks since I can't make the document
> correct for any particular release until it is out and I have time to
> go through it (or unless the release waits for me and I'm quite happy
> to have Linux be the final gate on release thank you.) If you have other
> thoughts or desires on support, by all means -- dissuade me. I'm fairly
> open on this.
> 
> Please send comments to nevdull@sequent.com.  If that address causes
> you problems for some reason, please try nevdull@us.ibm.com.  That
> address cannot reliably accept diffs currently due to possible message
> reformatting, so a third address you may try if you need that
> capability is rick@eaglet.rain.com.
> 
> Thank you in advance for your efforts. I encourage you to return
> comments by 6/1 but will accept them both sooner and later.
> 
> Rick Lindsley
> IBM Linux Technology Center
> nevdull@sequent.com
> nevdull@us.ibm.com
> rick@eaglet.rain.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Lse-tech mailing list
> Lse-tech@lists.sourceforge.net
> http://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/lse-tech
---end quoted text---

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