Linux Getting Extensive x86 Assembly Code Refresh

jones_supa writes: A massive x86 assembly code spring cleaning has been done in a pull request that is to end up in Linux 4.1. The developers have tried testing the code on many different x86 boxes, but there's risk of regression when exposing the code to many more systems in the days and weeks ahead. That being said, the list of improvements is excellent. There are over 100 separate cleanups, restructuring changes, speedups and fixes in the x86 system call, IRQ, trap and other entry code, part of a heroic effort to deobfuscate a decade old spaghetti assembly code and its C code dependencies.

Comments

Re:Cruft

[benjymouse]

For some time now, Mark Russinovich at Microsoft has been talking about just how bad the Windows kernel was/is in his blog.

I think you are confused. It was not Mark Russinovich, but rather Linus Torvalds, and he was talking about the Linux kernel, not the Windows kernel.

"I mean, sometimes it's a bit sad that we are definitely not the streamlined, small, hyper-efficient kernel that I envisioned 15 years ago...The kernel is huge and bloated, and our icache footprint is scary. I mean, there is no question about that. And whenever we add a new feature, it only gets worse."

Glad I could help.