Re: [PATCH v3 1/4] lib/dlock-list: Distributed and lock-protected lists

[Tejun Heo]

Hello,

On Tue, Jul 19, 2016 at 02:42:31PM -0400, Waiman Long wrote:
> On 07/18/2016 07:38 PM, Tejun Heo wrote:
> > > +struct dlock_list_node {
> > > +	struct list_head list;
> > > +	spinlock_t *lockptr;
> > > +};
> > Wouldn't it be better to point to dlock_list_percpu?
> 
> I could. However, the only thing that matter is the spinlock that protects
> the list entry.

Yeah, we can get back to this when it's actually necessary.  It just
looked a bit weird to me.

> > > +/*
> > > + * The dlock list iteration functions which return true if iteration has
> > > + * to be continued.
> > > + */
> > > +extern bool dlock_list_next(struct dlock_list_head *dlist,
> > > +			    struct dlock_list_iter *iter);
> > > +extern bool dlock_list_next_safe(struct dlock_list_head *dlist,
> > > +				 struct dlock_list_iter *iter);
> > Why not return dlock_list_node * for the current node?  That'd more
> > conventional and allows dlock_list_iter to be opaque.
> 
> Yes, I can make it return dlock_list_node *.
> 
> However, to make dlock_list_iter opaque, I will have to dynamically allocate
> the structure. That will add an extra memory allocation and free calls as
> well as handling the error case of running out of memory. I don't think that
> is worth doing at this point.

Sure, keep it defined in the header file.  Just don't require users to
reach into it and add a comment saying that the struct is opaque to
its users.

> > > +int alloc_dlock_list_head(struct dlock_list_head *dlist)
> > > +{
> > > +	struct dlock_list_head dlist_tmp;
> > > +	int cpu;
> > > +
> > > +	dlist_tmp.head = alloc_percpu(struct dlock_list_head_percpu);
> > > +	if (!dlist_tmp.head)
> > > +		return -ENOMEM;
> > > +
> > > +	for_each_possible_cpu(cpu) {
> > > +		struct dlock_list_head_percpu *head;
> > > +
> > > +		head = per_cpu_ptr(dlist_tmp.head, cpu);
> > > +		INIT_LIST_HEAD(&head->list);
> > > +		head->lock = __SPIN_LOCK_UNLOCKED(&head->lock);
> > > +		lockdep_set_class(&head->lock,&dlock_list_key);
> > > +	}
> > > +
> > > +	dlist->head = dlist_tmp.head;
> > Just use dlist->head directly or use local __perpcu head pointer?
> 
> I just don't want to expose the structure to world until it is fully
> initialized. If you think I am over-cautious, I can use dlist->head as
> suggested.

I don't think it makes any actual difference.  No strong opinion
either way.  Just use local __percpu head pointer then?

> > > +	return 0;
> > > +}
> > > +EXPORT_SYMBOL(alloc_dlock_list_head);
> > Does this actually need to be exported?  If so, it might be a better
> > idea to start with EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL().
> 
> For the current use case, we probably don't need to export the symbols.
> Other use cases may require that. I will change it to use the version
> instead.

If it's not immediately necessary, it's best to not export at all.

> > > +void dlock_list_del(struct dlock_list_node *node)
> > > +{
> > > +	spinlock_t *lock = READ_ONCE(node->lockptr);
> > > +
> > > +	if (unlikely(!lock)) {
> > > +		WARN_ONCE(1,
> > > +			"dlock_list_del: node 0x%lx has no associated lock\n",
> > > +			(unsigned long)node);
> > Maybe "if (WARN_ONCE(!lock...)"?  WARN_ONCE implies unlikely.
> 
> OK, will do that.
> 
> > > +		return;
> > > +	}
> > > +
> > > +	spin_lock(lock);
> > > +	if (likely(lock == node->lockptr)) {
> > > +		list_del_init(&node->list);
> > > +		node->lockptr = NULL;
> > > +	} else {
> > > +		/*
> > > +		 * This path should never be executed.
> > > +		 */
> > > +		WARN_ON_ONCE(1);
> > > +	}
> > This still kinda bothers me because this pretty much requires the
> > users to have strong synchronization around the operations and makes
> > it unusable in situations where opportunistic behaviors are
> > acceptable.  It negates the usefulness quite a bit.
> 
> I understand your concern. I will make it retry again with the new lock.

It doesn't necessarily have to retry but shouldn't break down when
used in an opportunistic racy way - e.g. if adds and removes race, the
order of operations isn't clearly defined as such any outcome is fine
as long as the list maintains its integrity.

> > > +/**
> > > + * dlock_list_next_safe - Removal-safe iterator of dlock list
> > > + * @dlist: Pointer to the dlock_list_head structure
> > > + * @iter : Pointer to the dlock list iterator structure
> > > + * Return: true if the next entry is found, false if all the entries iterated
> > > + *
> > > + * The iterator has to be properly initialized before calling this function.
> > > + * This iteration function is safe with respect to list entry removal.
> > > + * However, it cannot correctly iterate newly added entries right after the
> > > + * current one.
> > > + */
> > This still looks wrong to me.  If you want to provide the two variants
> > of iterations, can't you just implement one next function and build
> > the two types of iterations on top of it?
> 
> I have been thinking about making dlock_list_next_cpu()  the real external
> function and have 2 inline functions that implement dlock_list_next() and
> dlock_list_next_safe(). That may strike a better balance between performance
> and code abstraction. I will do so if you have no objection to that.

Yeah, please give it a try.  As mentioned in another reply, it'd
probably be best to provide an iteration macro which encapsulates the
whole thing.

Thanks.

-- 
tejun