Re: [PATCH] lib: fix compare_delta parameter order in percpu_counter_tree

From: Mathieu Desnoyers

Date: Sun Mar 15 2026 - 20:41:28 EST


On 2026-03-15 20:05, David CARLIER wrote:
Ok what about this revised version ?

static void hpcc_test_compare_value_boundaries(struct kunit *test)
{
struct percpu_counter_tree pct;
struct percpu_counter_tree_level_item *counter_items;
unsigned long under = 0, over = 0;
int ret;

counter_items = kzalloc(percpu_counter_tree_items_size(), GFP_KERNEL);
KUNIT_ASSERT_PTR_NE(test, counter_items, NULL);
ret = percpu_counter_tree_init(&pct, counter_items, 32, GFP_KERNEL);
KUNIT_ASSERT_EQ(test, ret, 0);

percpu_counter_tree_set(&pct, 0);
percpu_counter_tree_approximate_accuracy_range(&pct, &under, &over);

/*
* With approx_sum = precise_sum = 0, from the accuracy invariant:
* approx_sum - over <= precise_sum <= approx_sum + under
* Positive deltas use 'under' as tolerance, negative use 'over'.
*/

/* At boundary: indeterminate */
KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, 0,
percpu_counter_tree_approximate_compare_value(&pct,
(long)under));
KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, 0,
percpu_counter_tree_approximate_compare_value(&pct,
-(long)over));

/* Beyond boundary: definitive */
KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, 1,
percpu_counter_tree_approximate_compare_value(&pct,
(long)(under + 1)));
KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, -1,
percpu_counter_tree_approximate_compare_value(&pct,
-(long)(over + 1)));

/*
* When ranges are asymmetric, test values in the gap between the
* smaller and larger range to catch swapped accuracy parameters.
* Determine which range is larger at runtime to avoid assuming a
* specific relationship between under and over.
*/
if (under != over) {
unsigned long a = max(under, over);
unsigned long b = min(under, over);

Looking at the resulting code, I wonder if the a/b variables are
useful after all.


/*
* b + 1 is beyond the smaller range but within the larger.
* The side with the larger tolerance must return indeterminate,
* the side with the smaller tolerance must return definitive.
*/
if (a == under) {

This can become if (under > over) {

/* Positive side has larger tolerance */
KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, 0,
percpu_counter_tree_approximate_compare_value(
&pct, (long)(b + 1)));

"b" becomes "under"

KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, -1,
percpu_counter_tree_approximate_compare_value(
&pct, -(long)(b + 1)));

same.

} else {
/* Negative side has larger tolerance */
KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, 1,
percpu_counter_tree_approximate_compare_value(
&pct, (long)(b + 1)));

"b" becomes "over".

KUNIT_EXPECT_EQ(test, 0,
percpu_counter_tree_approximate_compare_value(
&pct, -(long)(b + 1)));

same.

Thanks,

Mathieu

}
}

percpu_counter_tree_destroy(&pct);
kfree(counter_items);
}
--
Mathieu Desnoyers
EfficiOS Inc.
https://www.efficios.com