Re: [RFC PATCH 01/13] futex2: Implement wait and wake functions

[Peter Zijlstra]

On Mon, Feb 15, 2021 at 12:23:52PM -0300, André Almeida wrote:
> Create a new set of futex syscalls known as futex2. This new interface
> is aimed to implement a more maintainable code, while removing obsolete
> features and expanding it with new functionalities.
> 
> Implements wait and wake semantics for futexes, along with the base
> infrastructure for future operations.

> +	futex_table = alloc_large_system_hash("futex2", sizeof(struct futex_bucket),
> +					      futex2_hashsize, 0,
> +					      futex2_hashsize < 256 ? HASH_SMALL : 0,
> +					      &futex_shift, NULL,
> +					      futex2_hashsize, futex2_hashsize);

So why are we implementing a whole second infrastrure and doubling the
memory footprint of all this?

Sure, futex.c is a pain in the ass, but most of that is not because of
the interface, most of it is having to deal with sharing state with
userspace and that being fundamentally unreliable.

Once you want to add {,UN}LOCK{,_PI} and robust futex support, you're
back to it being a giant rats nest of corner cases. Thinking a new
interface can solve any of that is naive.

So while I'm in favour of adding a new interface, I'm not sure I see
benefit of reimplementing the basics, sure it seems simpler now, but
that's because you've not implemented all the 'fun' stuff.