Date:	Fri, 3 Oct 2008 12:11:54 -0400
From:	Mathieu Desnoyers <compudj@...stal.dyndns.org>
To:	Jason Baron <jbaron@...hat.com>
Cc:	Arjan van de Ven <arjan@...radead.org>,
	Steven Rostedt <rostedt@...dmis.org>,
	Martin Bligh <mbligh@...gle.com>,
	Linux Kernel Mailing List <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	Linus Torvalds <torvalds@...ux-foundation.org>,
	Thomas Gleixner <tglx@...utronix.de>, od@...ell.com,
	"Frank Ch. Eigler" <fche@...hat.com>
Subject: Re: Unified tracing buffer

* Jason Baron (jbaron@...hat.com) wrote:
> On Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 02:52:09PM -0400, Mathieu Desnoyers wrote:
> > > On Sat, 20 Sep 2008 09:55:48 -0400
> > > Mathieu Desnoyers <compudj@...stal.dyndns.org> wrote:
> > > 
> > > > How about :
> > > > 
> > > >   trace_mark(ftrace_evname, "size %lu binary %pW",
> > > >     sizeof(mystruct), mystruct);
> > > >   or
> > > >   trace_mark(sched_wakeup, "target_pid %ld", task->pid);
> > > > 
> > > > Note the namespacing with buffers being "ftrace" and "sched" here.
> > > > 
> > > > That would encapsulate the whole
> > > >   - Event ID registration
> > > >   - Event type registration
> > > >   - Sending data out
> > > >   - Enabling the event source directly at the source
> > > > 
> > > > We can then export the markers through a debugfs file and let userland
> > > > enable them one by one and possibly connect systemtap filters on them
> > > > (one table of registered filters, one table for the markers, a command
> > > > file to connect/disconnect filters to/from markers).
> > > 
> > > I would like to ask for the following from the start: have a field for
> > > a longer description of the marker that describes it's usage and
> > > context. Getting this there from the start is critical, because only
> > > when adding the marker point do people still really remember why/what
> > > (and having to type a good description also helps them to realize if
> > > this is the right point or not). This can then be exposed to the user
> > > so he has a standing chance of knowing what the marker is about.
> > > 
> > > It also has a standing chance of being updated when the code changes
> > > this way
> > > 
> > 
> > I agree, and I think it might be required in both markers and
> > tracepoints.
> > 
> > Given that tracepoints are declared in a global header
> > (DECLARE_TRACE()), I would add this kind of description here. Tracepoint
> > uses within the kernel code (statements like :
> >   trace_sched_switch(prev, next);
> > added to the scheduler) would therefore be tied to the description
> > without having to contain it in the core kernel code.
> > 
> > Markers, on the other hand, could become the "event description"
> > interface which is exported to userspace. Considering that, I guess it's
> > as important to let a precise description follow the markers.
> > 
> > Mathieu
> > 
> >
> 
> hi,
> 
> Tracepoints and markers seem to both have their place, with tracepoints
> being integral to kernel users, and markers being important for
> userspace. However, it seems to me like there is overlap in the
> code and an extra level of indirection when markers are layered on
> tracespoints. could they be merged a bit more?
> 
> What if we extended DEFINE_TRACE() to also create a
> 'set_marker(marker_cb)' function where 'marker_cb' has the function signature:
> 
> marker_cb(<tracepoint prototype>, *marker_probe_func);
> 
> We then also create 'register_marker_##name' function in DEFINE_TRACE(),
> which allows one to regiser marker callbacks in the usual way.
> 
> Then 'marker_cb' function is then called in '__DO_TRACE' if anybody has
> registered a marker (which can set the tracepoint.state appropriately).
> 
> The 'marker_cb' function then marshalls its arguemnts and passes them
> through to the marker functions that were registered.
> 
> I think in this way we can simplify the tracepoints and markers by
> combining them to a large extent.
> 
> thanks,
> 
> -Jason
> 

I think what you propose here is already in y LTTng tree in a different
form. It's a patch to markers to allow declaring a marker which enables
an associated tracepoint when enabled. This way, we can have a marker
(exposed to userspace) connecting itself automatically to a tracepoint
when enabled.

It's here :
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/compudj/linux-2.6-lttng.git;a=commitdiff;h=d52ea7c48f47a1179aee01636d515cfea4ff6ede;hp=0a7b5c02209f3582ed1369ec818a1b389bd45a09

Note that locking depends on the psrwlock patch so we can have nested
module list readers. Otherwise locking becomes _really_ messy. :-(

Mathieu

> 
> 
> 

-- 
Mathieu Desnoyers
OpenPGP key fingerprint: 8CD5 52C3 8E3C 4140 715F  BA06 3F25 A8FE 3BAE 9A68
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