linux-kernel - Re: Module loading/unloading and "The Stop Machine"

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Date:	Tue, 4 Mar 2008 14:51:09 +1100
From:	Rusty Russell <rusty@...tcorp.com.au>
To:	"Jike Song" <albcamus@...il.com>
Cc:	"Max Krasnyansky" <maxk@...lcomm.com>,
	"Andrew Morton" <akpm@...ux-foundation.org>,
	LKML <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	"Linus Torvalds" <torvalds@...ux-foundation.org>
Subject: Re: Module loading/unloading and "The Stop Machine"

On Thursday 14 February 2008 16:02:06 Jike Song wrote:
> On 2/8/08, Max Krasnyansky <maxk@...lcomm.com> wrote:
> > Hi Rusty,
> >
> > I was hopping you could answer a couple of questions about module
> > loading/unloading and the stop machine.
>
> I'm curious to know why it is called `stop machine', which is a queer
> name without any relationship with its function.

Hi Jike,

   I'm surprised.. stunned even, to hear you say this.  stop_machine stops the 
machine: every CPU is frozen with interrupts disabled.  I am having trouble 
thinking of a better name.

  "schedule_a_thread_on_every_cpu_and_then_disable_interrupts" is a little 
long, and describes the implementation not the effect.

  "run_and_make_sure_no_cpus_have_preempt_disabled" also fails the "will Linus 
flame me?" test, I think.

  "freeze_machine" has connotations of the freezer, which is completely 
different from this.  "do_machine" is shorter, but sounds vaguely naughty.

> Regards,
> Jike

Perhaps you were angling for "jike_machine"?  It's kind of catchy, but I don't 
think that patch will be accepted even if you pushed it as a git tree.

Cheers,
Rusty.
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