Re: [PATCH v7 2/6] ACPI / processor_idle: Add support for Low Power Idle(LPI) states

From: Daniel Lezcano
Date: Fri Jul 01 2016 - 09:13:01 EST


On 06/28/2016 03:55 PM, Sudeep Holla wrote:
ACPI 6.0 introduced an optional object _LPI that provides an alternate
method to describe Low Power Idle states. It defines the local power
states for each node in a hierarchical processor topology. The OSPM can
use _LPI object to select a local power state for each level of processor
hierarchy in the system. They used to produce a composite power state
request that is presented to the platform by the OSPM.

Since multiple processors affect the idle state for any non-leaf hierarchy
node, coordination of idle state requests between the processors is
required. ACPI supports two different coordination schemes: Platform
coordinated and OS initiated.

This patch adds initial support for Platform coordination scheme of LPI.

Cc: "Rafael J. Wysocki" <rjw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Signed-off-by: Sudeep Holla <sudeep.holla@xxxxxxx>
---

Hi Sudeep,

I looked at the acpi processor idle code sometime ago and from my POV, it was awful, unnecessary complex and very difficult to maintain. The usage of flags all over the places is significant of the lack of control of the written code.

Even if you are not responsible of this implementation, the current situation forces you to add more awful code on top of that, which is clearly against "making Linux better".

IMO, the current code deserves a huge cleanup before applying anything new : cstate and lpi should be investigated to be self-contained in their respective file and consolidated, the global variable usage should be killed, redundant flag checking removed by recapturing the code flow, etc ... I believe the usage of acpi probe table could be one entry point to begin this cleanup.




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