[PATCH 0/2] livepatch: Add compiler optimization disclaimer/docs

From: Joe Lawrence
Date: Tue Jul 21 2020 - 12:14:28 EST


In light of [PATCH] Revert "kbuild: use -flive-patching when
CONFIG_LIVEPATCH is enabled" [1], we should add some loud disclaimers
and explanation of the impact compiler optimizations have on
livepatching.

The first commit provides detailed explanations and examples. The list
was taken mostly from Miroslav's LPC talk a few years back. This is a
bit rough, so corrections and additional suggestions welcome. Expanding
upon the source-based patching approach would be helpful, too.

The second commit adds a small README.rst file in the livepatch samples
directory pointing the reader to the doc introduced in the first commit.

I didn't touch the livepatch kselftests yet as I'm still unsure about
how to best account for IPA here. We could add the same README.rst
disclaimer here, too, but perhaps we have a chance to do something more.
Possibilities range from checking for renamed functions as part of their
build, or the selftest scripts, or even adding something to the kernel
API. I think we'll have a better idea after reviewing the compiler
considerations doc.

[1] https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/696262e997359666afa053fe7d1a9fb2bb373964.1595010490.git.jpoimboe@xxxxxxxxxx/

Joe Lawrence (2):
docs/livepatch: Add new compiler considerations doc
samples/livepatch: Add README.rst disclaimer

.../livepatch/compiler-considerations.rst | 220 ++++++++++++++++++
Documentation/livepatch/index.rst | 1 +
Documentation/livepatch/livepatch.rst | 7 +
samples/livepatch/README.rst | 15 ++
4 files changed, 243 insertions(+)
create mode 100644 Documentation/livepatch/compiler-considerations.rst
create mode 100644 samples/livepatch/README.rst

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2.21.3