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The ~200 Line Linux Kernel Patch That Does Wonders

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the well-isn't-that-special dept.

An anonymous reader writes "There is a relatively miniscule patch to the Linux kernel scheduler being queued up for Linux 2.6.38 that is proving to have dramatic results for those multi-tasking on the desktop. Phoronix is reporting the ~200 line Linux kernel patch that does wonders with before and after videos demonstrating the much-improved responsiveness and interactivity of the Linux desktop. While compiling the Linux kernel with 64 parallel jobs, 1080p video playback was still smooth, windows could be moved fluidly, and there was not nearly as much of a slowdown compared to when this patch was applied. Linus Torvalds has shared his thoughts on this patch: So I think this is firmly one of those 'real improvement' patches. Good job. Group scheduling goes from 'useful for some specific server loads' to 'that's a killer feature.'"

15 of 603 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Compiling the kernel by spiffmastercow · · Score: 3, Funny

    Obviously you're not running Gentoo.

  2. Re:Compiling the kernel by suso · · Score: 5, Funny

    I used to. For 3 years. But I wanted my time back.

  3. Distros? by SIGBUS · · Score: 4, Funny

    Of course, how many years from now will that filter into the distros? My guess:

    Gentoo: soon
    Debian Unstable: 2Q 2011
    Ubuntu, Fedora: 1Q 2012
    Debian Stable: 2015
    RHEL: 2020

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    1. Re:Distros? by Rysc · · Score: 4, Funny

      Fuck support contracts. Real men fire up gdb when they see a koops.

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  4. Wait.... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's not a kernel patch... That's a bash script that forcibly installs BeOS!

  5. Xkcd knows it by MetalliQaZ · · Score: 4, Funny

    http://xkcd.com/619/

    --
    "Here Lies Philip J. Fry, named for his uncle, to carry on his spirit"
  6. Re:teh snappy!!!! by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Good luck, Mister Gorsky!

  7. This was always my biggest problem with Linux by dselic · · Score: 5, Funny

    No matter how many different flavors of Linux I installed, it just never seemed as snappy as Windows. There was always a sluggishness about it, nothing I could really put my finger on, but it was definitely there and it bothered me. I'm very glad to hear that a solution is in sight.

    I hope the people at Ubunto get this out as an update as soon as possible.

    1. Re:This was always my biggest problem with Linux by Tetsujin · · Score: 3, Funny

      tired "inb4" bullshit...

      why?

      Because if you can predict how people are going to react to a certain set of conditions then you have demonstrated mastery over their inferior minds. But you have to call it out, or else no one will know!

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      Bow-ties are cool.
  8. Re:Isn't it awesome by icebraining · · Score: 3, Funny

    The PowerPC owners disagree. The new versions don't perform better in their hardware.

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  9. But 400 lines of code.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ....would make it 2x faster! LOC is the #1 metric for programming.

  10. Re:Compiling the kernel by Albanach · · Score: 5, Funny

    I used to. For 3 years.

    Wow, I think my K6 pentium clone could compile the kernel faster than that!

  11. Re:Actually that sounbds quite large. by 91degrees · · Score: 3, Funny

    Uhm... I went wrong by not explaining my point in excruciting detail?

  12. Re:Compiling the kernel by Inda · · Score: 5, Funny

    If it takes less than 3 years, you're doing it wrong.

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  13. Re:Compiling the kernel by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    recompile the Gentoo kernel using --mph=88