Re: [PATCH 1/5] [PATCH 1/5] function-graph/x86: replace unbalancedret with jmp

From: Steven Rostedt
Date: Tue Oct 13 2009 - 17:29:51 EST


On Tue, 2009-10-13 at 17:21 -0400, Mathieu Desnoyers wrote:

> > What it was:
> >
> > call function
> > function:
> > call mcount
> > mcount:
> > call ftrace_entry
>
> Can we manage to change this call

Note, that call jumps to C code.

>
> > ftrace_entry:
> > mess up with return code of caller
> > ret
>
> .. and this ret for 2 jmp instructions too ?

The code is all in C, and it too calls functions. Not sure where this
helps out any. The ret here matches their calls. Thus the prediction
will work.

>
> Given that we have no choice but to kill call/ret prediction logic, I
> think it might be good to try to use this logic as little as possible
> (by favoring jmp jmp over call/ret when the return target is invariant).
>
> That's just an idea, benchmarks could prove me right/wrong.

I don't see how this would help. And I'm not about to waste time
experimenting. What's the rational?

-- Steve


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