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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.'"

4 of 603 comments (clear)

  1. teh snappy!!!! by schmidt349 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Considering that UI lag was always my big problem with anything Linux-based (hell, it even seems to affect Android phones), this might be one small patch for the kernel, one giant leap for userspace...

  2. Isn't it awesome by bcmm · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Isn't it awesome when a new version of your OS performs *better* than the last one on the same hardware?

    --
    # cat /dev/mem | strings | grep -i llama
    Damn, my RAM is full of llamas.
  3. Actually understand the benchmark, then criticize by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Compiling the kernel isn't a useful benchmark. How well does it deal with running Adobe Air?"

    Obviously you've never compiled a kernel passing -j64 to the make process. If you had, you would know that all your CPUs would be pegged (indeed -j7 pegs all 8 cores on my laptop.) Of course that is not the benchmark part. The point is that with an "all your processors are belong to kernel build" condition, group scheduling allows there to be essentially no perceived slowdown for interactive GUI/Window manager based computing. You probably should have figured out that you were missing something when Linus Torvalds didn't object to the benchmark and the results. Seriously, this is a major point to understand: When it comes to the kernel, in a fight between your knowledge and Linus', Linus wins.

    --
    Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  4. Re:Compiling the kernel by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    1) There are no 1200 kbps dialup modems. The fastest ones do 56 Kbps under specialized conditions.

    2) If you meant to say 1200 bps modems, well, by the Linus wrote and released the first versions of the Linux kernel, 1200 bps modems and the 386SX were both well obsolete. The most common systems of that day were 486DXs running at 33 MHz at the sweet spot and 50 MHz at the high end. Most people had modems capable of greater than 9600 BPS (many around 14.4Kbps and 28.8Kbps)

    3) Now quit making fun of us real old-timers and get off my lawn .

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    My blog