Re: [PATCH] x86/alternative: Optimize single-byte NOPs at an arbitrary position

From: Borislav Petkov
Date: Wed Jun 02 2021 - 06:38:01 EST


On Wed, Jun 02, 2021 at 10:14:58AM +0200, Peter Zijlstra wrote:
> Who again insisted that wouldn't happen? :-)

Yours truly, ofc. :-P

> That's almost a proper comment, might as well finish it
>
> /*
> * optimize_nops_range() - Optimize a sequence of single byte NOPs (0x90)
> * @instr: instruction byte stream
> * @instrlen: length of the above
> * @off: offset within @instr where the first NOP has been detected
> *
> * Return: number of NOPs found (and replaced)
> */

Done.

> for (; i < instrlen && instr[i] == 0x90; i++)
> ;
>
> perhaps? (possibly too dense, up to you)

Yeah, let's leave it simple so that one can read it at a quick glance.

> > +
> > + nnops = i - off;
> > +
> > + if (nnops <= 1)
> > + return nnops;
>
> !nnops would be an error, no?

Yeah, just being overly cautious. It should not be 0 since we're being
called for the byte at offset being 0x90. But I have said "should not
be" before and have fallen flat on my face.

> We really needs that extra line?

Zapped.

> Anyway, irrespective of nits:
>
> Acked-by: Peter Zijlstra (Intel) <peterz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Thanks, all except one incorporated.

--
Regards/Gruss,
Boris.

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