Re: Candidate Linux ABI for Intel AMX and hypothetical new related features

From: Thomas Gleixner
Date: Mon Apr 12 2021 - 20:17:24 EST


On Mon, Apr 12 2021 at 19:46, Len Brown wrote:
> On Mon, Apr 12, 2021 at 11:21 AM Andy Lutomirski <luto@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Even putting aside all kernel and ABI issues, is it actually a good
>> idea for user libraries to transparently use these new features? I'm
>> not really convinced. I think that serious discussion among userspace
>> people is needed.
>
> At the risk of stating the obvious...
> Intel's view is that libraries that deliver the most value from the
> hardware are a "good thing",
> and that anything preventing libraries from getting the most value
> from the hardware is a "bad thing":-)

Sure, and as a consequence the kernel is the problem when creative
libraries cause wreckage along the way.

I'm fine with that as long the kernel has a way to detect that and can
kill the offending application/library combo with an excplicit
-SIG_NICE_TRY.

Thanks,

tglx