linux-kernel - Re: [PATCH] documentation: explain memory barriers

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Message-ID: <48ED5BC6.8040006@redhat.com>
Date:	Wed, 08 Oct 2008 21:17:58 -0400
From:	Chris Snook <csnook@...hat.com>
To:	Randy Dunlap <randy.dunlap@...cle.com>
CC:	Andrew Morton <akpm@...ux-foundation.org>,
	Ben Hutchings <bhutchings@...arflare.com>,
	Mikulas Patocka <mpatocka@...hat.com>,
	linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org, linux-mm@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH] documentation: explain memory barriers

Randy Dunlap wrote:
> On Wed, 1 Oct 2008 22:54:04 -0700 Andrew Morton wrote:
> 
>> This sequence is repeated three or four times and should be pulled out
>> into a well-commented function.  That comment should explain the logic
>> behind the use of these barriers, please.
> 
> and on 2008-OCT-08 Ben Hutchings wrote:
> 
>> All memory barriers need a comment to explain why and what they're doing.

Seriously?  When a barrier is used, it's generally self-evident what 
it's doing.  The real problem is when a barrier is *not* used.  It would 
probably be more helpful to comment every non-barrier line of code to 
explain why it's okay if memory operations are getting reordered.

-- Chris
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