Re: [PATCH 5/13] KVM: virtualization infrastructure

From: Avi Kivity
Date: Mon Oct 23 2006 - 16:40:39 EST


Arnd Bergmann wrote:
+struct segment_descriptor {
+ u16 limit_low;
+ u16 base_low;
+ u8 base_mid;
+ u8 type : 4;
+ u8 system : 1;
+ u8 dpl : 2;
+ u8 present : 1;
+ u8 limit_high : 4;
+ u8 avl : 1;
+ u8 long_mode : 1;
+ u8 default_op : 1;
+ u8 granularity : 1;
+ u8 base_high;
+} __attribute__((packed));
Bitfields are generally frowned upon. It's better to define
constants for each of these and use a u64.
Any specific reasons? I find the code much more readable (and
lowercase) with bitfields.

The strongest reason against bitfields is that they are not
endian-clean. This doesn't apply on a architecture-specific
patch such as KVM, but it just feels wrong to read code
with bit fields in the kernel.


Okay, will change. It's very localized anyway.

--
Do not meddle in the internals of kernels, for they are subtle and quick to panic.

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