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Message-ID: <aR5p4FaMGRpmb_Ki@google.com>
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:07:44 -0800
From: Namhyung Kim <namhyung@...nel.org>
To: Ian Rogers <irogers@...gle.com>
Cc: Arnaldo Carvalho de Melo <acme@...nel.org>,
	James Clark <james.clark@...aro.org>, Jiri Olsa <jolsa@...nel.org>,
	Adrian Hunter <adrian.hunter@...el.com>,
	Peter Zijlstra <peterz@...radead.org>,
	Ingo Molnar <mingo@...nel.org>, LKML <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
	linux-perf-users@...r.kernel.org,
	Steven Rostedt <rostedt@...dmis.org>,
	Josh Poimboeuf <jpoimboe@...nel.org>,
	Indu Bhagat <indu.bhagat@...cle.com>,
	Jens Remus <jremus@...ux.ibm.com>,
	Mathieu Desnoyers <mathieu.desnoyers@...icios.com>,
	linux-trace-kernel@...r.kernel.org, bpf@...r.kernel.org
Subject: Re: [PATCH v4 5/5] perf tools: Merge deferred user callchains

On Wed, Nov 19, 2025 at 08:54:26AM -0800, Ian Rogers wrote:
> On Sat, Nov 15, 2025 at 3:41 PM Namhyung Kim <namhyung@...nel.org> wrote:
> >
> > Save samples with deferred callchains in a separate list and deliver
> > them after merging the user callchains.  If users don't want to merge
> > they can set tool->merge_deferred_callchains to false to prevent the
> > behavior.
> >
> > With previous result, now perf script will show the merged callchains.
> >
> >   $ perf script
> >   ...
> >   pwd    2312   121.163435:     249113 cpu/cycles/P:
> >           ffffffff845b78d8 __build_id_parse.isra.0+0x218 ([kernel.kallsyms])
> >           ffffffff83bb5bf6 perf_event_mmap+0x2e6 ([kernel.kallsyms])
> >           ffffffff83c31959 mprotect_fixup+0x1e9 ([kernel.kallsyms])
> >           ffffffff83c31dc5 do_mprotect_pkey+0x2b5 ([kernel.kallsyms])
> >           ffffffff83c3206f __x64_sys_mprotect+0x1f ([kernel.kallsyms])
> >           ffffffff845e6692 do_syscall_64+0x62 ([kernel.kallsyms])
> >           ffffffff8360012f entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76 ([kernel.kallsyms])
> >               7f18fe337fa7 mprotect+0x7 (/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2)
> >               7f18fe330e0f _dl_sysdep_start+0x7f (/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2)
> >               7f18fe331448 _dl_start_user+0x0 (/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2)
> >   ...
> >
> > The old output can be get using --no-merge-callchain option.
> > Also perf report can get the user callchain entry at the end.
> >
> >   $ perf report --no-children --stdio -q -S __build_id_parse.isra.0
> >   # symbol: __build_id_parse.isra.0
> >        8.40%  pwd      [kernel.kallsyms]
> >               |
> >               ---__build_id_parse.isra.0
> >                  perf_event_mmap
> >                  mprotect_fixup
> >                  do_mprotect_pkey
> >                  __x64_sys_mprotect
> >                  do_syscall_64
> >                  entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe
> >                  mprotect
> >                  _dl_sysdep_start
> >                  _dl_start_user
> >
> > Signed-off-by: Namhyung Kim <namhyung@...nel.org>
> > ---
> >  tools/perf/Documentation/perf-script.txt |  5 ++
> >  tools/perf/builtin-inject.c              |  1 +
> >  tools/perf/builtin-report.c              |  1 +
> >  tools/perf/builtin-script.c              |  4 ++
> >  tools/perf/util/callchain.c              | 29 ++++++++++
> >  tools/perf/util/callchain.h              |  3 ++
> >  tools/perf/util/evlist.c                 |  1 +
> >  tools/perf/util/evlist.h                 |  2 +
> >  tools/perf/util/session.c                | 67 +++++++++++++++++++++++-
> >  tools/perf/util/tool.c                   |  1 +
> >  tools/perf/util/tool.h                   |  1 +
> >  11 files changed, 114 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
> >
> > diff --git a/tools/perf/Documentation/perf-script.txt b/tools/perf/Documentation/perf-script.txt
> > index 28bec7e78bc858ba..03d1129606328d6d 100644
> > --- a/tools/perf/Documentation/perf-script.txt
> > +++ b/tools/perf/Documentation/perf-script.txt
> > @@ -527,6 +527,11 @@ include::itrace.txt[]
> >         The known limitations include exception handing such as
> >         setjmp/longjmp will have calls/returns not match.
> >
> > +--merge-callchains::
> > +       Enable merging deferred user callchains if available.  This is the
> > +       default behavior.  If you want to see separate CALLCHAIN_DEFERRED
> > +       records for some reason, use --no-merge-callchains explicitly.
> > +
> >  :GMEXAMPLECMD: script
> >  :GMEXAMPLESUBCMD:
> >  include::guest-files.txt[]
> > diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c b/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c
> > index bd9245d2dd41aa48..51d2721b6db9dccb 100644
> > --- a/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c
> > +++ b/tools/perf/builtin-inject.c
> > @@ -2527,6 +2527,7 @@ int cmd_inject(int argc, const char **argv)
> >         inject.tool.auxtrace            = perf_event__repipe_auxtrace;
> >         inject.tool.bpf_metadata        = perf_event__repipe_op2_synth;
> >         inject.tool.dont_split_sample_group = true;
> > +       inject.tool.merge_deferred_callchains = false;
> >         inject.session = __perf_session__new(&data, &inject.tool,
> >                                              /*trace_event_repipe=*/inject.output.is_pipe,
> >                                              /*host_env=*/NULL);
> > diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
> > index 2bc269f5fcef8023..add6b1c2aaf04270 100644
> > --- a/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
> > +++ b/tools/perf/builtin-report.c
> > @@ -1614,6 +1614,7 @@ int cmd_report(int argc, const char **argv)
> >         report.tool.event_update         = perf_event__process_event_update;
> >         report.tool.feature              = process_feature_event;
> >         report.tool.ordering_requires_timestamps = true;
> > +       report.tool.merge_deferred_callchains = !dump_trace;
> >
> >         session = perf_session__new(&data, &report.tool);
> >         if (IS_ERR(session)) {
> > diff --git a/tools/perf/builtin-script.c b/tools/perf/builtin-script.c
> > index 85b42205a71b3993..62e43d3c5ad731a0 100644
> > --- a/tools/perf/builtin-script.c
> > +++ b/tools/perf/builtin-script.c
> > @@ -4009,6 +4009,7 @@ int cmd_script(int argc, const char **argv)
> >         bool header_only = false;
> >         bool script_started = false;
> >         bool unsorted_dump = false;
> > +       bool merge_deferred_callchains = true;
> >         char *rec_script_path = NULL;
> >         char *rep_script_path = NULL;
> >         struct perf_session *session;
> > @@ -4162,6 +4163,8 @@ int cmd_script(int argc, const char **argv)
> >                     "Guest code can be found in hypervisor process"),
> >         OPT_BOOLEAN('\0', "stitch-lbr", &script.stitch_lbr,
> >                     "Enable LBR callgraph stitching approach"),
> > +       OPT_BOOLEAN('\0', "merge-callchains", &merge_deferred_callchains,
> > +                   "Enable merge deferred user callchains"),
> >         OPTS_EVSWITCH(&script.evswitch),
> >         OPT_END()
> >         };
> > @@ -4418,6 +4421,7 @@ int cmd_script(int argc, const char **argv)
> >         script.tool.throttle             = process_throttle_event;
> >         script.tool.unthrottle           = process_throttle_event;
> >         script.tool.ordering_requires_timestamps = true;
> > +       script.tool.merge_deferred_callchains = merge_deferred_callchains;
> >         session = perf_session__new(&data, &script.tool);
> >         if (IS_ERR(session))
> >                 return PTR_ERR(session);
> > diff --git a/tools/perf/util/callchain.c b/tools/perf/util/callchain.c
> > index 2884187ccbbecfdc..71dc5a070065dd2a 100644
> > --- a/tools/perf/util/callchain.c
> > +++ b/tools/perf/util/callchain.c
> > @@ -1838,3 +1838,32 @@ int sample__for_each_callchain_node(struct thread *thread, struct evsel *evsel,
> >         }
> >         return 0;
> >  }
> > +
> > +int sample__merge_deferred_callchain(struct perf_sample *sample_orig,
> > +                                    struct perf_sample *sample_callchain)
> > +{
> > +       u64 nr_orig = sample_orig->callchain->nr - 1;
> > +       u64 nr_deferred = sample_callchain->callchain->nr;
> > +       struct ip_callchain *callchain;
> > +
> > +       if (sample_orig->callchain->nr < 2) {
> > +               sample_orig->deferred_callchain = false;
> > +               return -EINVAL;
> > +       }
> > +
> > +       callchain = calloc(1 + nr_orig + nr_deferred, sizeof(u64));
> > +       if (callchain == NULL) {
> > +               sample_orig->deferred_callchain = false;
> > +               return -ENOMEM;
> > +       }
> > +
> > +       callchain->nr = nr_orig + nr_deferred;
> > +       /* copy original including PERF_CONTEXT_USER_DEFERRED (but the cookie) */
> > +       memcpy(callchain->ips, sample_orig->callchain->ips, nr_orig * sizeof(u64));
> > +       /* copy deferred user callchains */
> > +       memcpy(&callchain->ips[nr_orig], sample_callchain->callchain->ips,
> > +              nr_deferred * sizeof(u64));
> > +
> > +       sample_orig->callchain = callchain;
> > +       return 0;
> > +}
> > diff --git a/tools/perf/util/callchain.h b/tools/perf/util/callchain.h
> > index d5ae4fbb7ce5fa44..2a52af8c80ace33c 100644
> > --- a/tools/perf/util/callchain.h
> > +++ b/tools/perf/util/callchain.h
> > @@ -318,4 +318,7 @@ int sample__for_each_callchain_node(struct thread *thread, struct evsel *evsel,
> >                                     struct perf_sample *sample, int max_stack,
> >                                     bool symbols, callchain_iter_fn cb, void *data);
> >
> > +int sample__merge_deferred_callchain(struct perf_sample *sample_orig,
> > +                                    struct perf_sample *sample_callchain);
> > +
> >  #endif /* __PERF_CALLCHAIN_H */
> > diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
> > index e8217efdda5323c6..03674d2cbd015e4f 100644
> > --- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
> > +++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.c
> > @@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ void evlist__init(struct evlist *evlist, struct perf_cpu_map *cpus,
> >         evlist->ctl_fd.pos = -1;
> >         evlist->nr_br_cntr = -1;
> >         metricgroup__rblist_init(&evlist->metric_events);
> > +       INIT_LIST_HEAD(&evlist->deferred_samples);
> >  }
> >
> >  struct evlist *evlist__new(void)
> > diff --git a/tools/perf/util/evlist.h b/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
> > index 5e71e3dc60423079..911834ae7c2a6f76 100644
> > --- a/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
> > +++ b/tools/perf/util/evlist.h
> > @@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ struct evlist {
> >          * of struct metric_expr.
> >          */
> >         struct rblist   metric_events;
> > +       /* samples with deferred_callchain would wait here. */
> > +       struct list_head deferred_samples;
> >  };
> >
> >  struct evsel_str_handler {
> > diff --git a/tools/perf/util/session.c b/tools/perf/util/session.c
> > index 361e15c1f26a96d0..2e777fd1bcf6707b 100644
> > --- a/tools/perf/util/session.c
> > +++ b/tools/perf/util/session.c
> > @@ -1285,6 +1285,60 @@ static int evlist__deliver_sample(struct evlist *evlist, const struct perf_tool
> >                                             per_thread);
> >  }
> >
> > +struct deferred_event {
> > +       struct list_head list;
> > +       union perf_event *event;
> 
> What's going on with the memory here? Doesn't the event need to be a
> copy to avoid the memory going away in between processing events? It
> is definitely worth commenting. Note, I don't see a copy being made
> for the event here in machines__deliver_event.

It doesn't allocate memory for the event.  It rather points to the ring
buffer.  But there are places we need to copy.  Will update!

Thanks,
Namhyung

> 
> > +};
> > +
> > +static int evlist__deliver_deferred_samples(struct evlist *evlist,
> > +                                           const struct perf_tool *tool,
> > +                                           union  perf_event *event,
> > +                                           struct perf_sample *sample,
> > +                                           struct machine *machine)
> > +{
> > +       struct deferred_event *de, *tmp;
> > +       struct evsel *evsel;
> > +       int ret = 0;
> > +
> > +       if (!tool->merge_deferred_callchains) {
> > +               evsel = evlist__id2evsel(evlist, sample->id);
> > +               return tool->callchain_deferred(tool, event, sample,
> > +                                               evsel, machine);
> > +       }
> > +
> > +       list_for_each_entry_safe(de, tmp, &evlist->deferred_samples, list) {
> > +               struct perf_sample orig_sample;
> > +
> > +               ret = evlist__parse_sample(evlist, de->event, &orig_sample);
> > +               if (ret < 0) {
> > +                       pr_err("failed to parse original sample\n");
> > +                       break;
> > +               }
> > +
> > +               if (sample->tid != orig_sample.tid)
> > +                       continue;
> > +
> > +               if (event->callchain_deferred.cookie == orig_sample.deferred_cookie)
> > +                       sample__merge_deferred_callchain(&orig_sample, sample);
> > +               else
> > +                       orig_sample.deferred_callchain = false;
> > +
> > +               evsel = evlist__id2evsel(evlist, orig_sample.id);
> > +               ret = evlist__deliver_sample(evlist, tool, de->event,
> > +                                            &orig_sample, evsel, machine);
> > +
> > +               if (orig_sample.deferred_callchain)
> > +                       free(orig_sample.callchain);
> > +
> > +               list_del(&de->list);
> > +               free(de);
> > +
> > +               if (ret)
> > +                       break;
> > +       }
> > +       return ret;
> > +}
> > +
> >  static int machines__deliver_event(struct machines *machines,
> >                                    struct evlist *evlist,
> >                                    union perf_event *event,
> > @@ -1313,6 +1367,16 @@ static int machines__deliver_event(struct machines *machines,
> >                         return 0;
> >                 }
> >                 dump_sample(evsel, event, sample, perf_env__arch(machine->env));
> > +               if (sample->deferred_callchain && tool->merge_deferred_callchains) {
> > +                       struct deferred_event *de = malloc(sizeof(*de));
> > +
> > +                       if (de == NULL)
> > +                               return -ENOMEM;
> > +
> > +                       de->event = event;
> > +                       list_add_tail(&de->list, &evlist->deferred_samples);
> > +                       return 0;
> > +               }
> >                 return evlist__deliver_sample(evlist, tool, event, sample, evsel, machine);
> >         case PERF_RECORD_MMAP:
> >                 return tool->mmap(tool, event, sample, machine);
> > @@ -1372,7 +1436,8 @@ static int machines__deliver_event(struct machines *machines,
> >                 return tool->aux_output_hw_id(tool, event, sample, machine);
> >         case PERF_RECORD_CALLCHAIN_DEFERRED:
> >                 dump_deferred_callchain(evsel, event, sample);
> > -               return tool->callchain_deferred(tool, event, sample, evsel, machine);
> > +               return evlist__deliver_deferred_samples(evlist, tool, event,
> > +                                                       sample, machine);
> >         default:
> >                 ++evlist->stats.nr_unknown_events;
> >                 return -1;
> > diff --git a/tools/perf/util/tool.c b/tools/perf/util/tool.c
> > index f732d33e7f895ed4..c5d3b464b2a433b3 100644
> > --- a/tools/perf/util/tool.c
> > +++ b/tools/perf/util/tool.c
> > @@ -266,6 +266,7 @@ void perf_tool__init(struct perf_tool *tool, bool ordered_events)
> >         tool->cgroup_events = false;
> >         tool->no_warn = false;
> >         tool->show_feat_hdr = SHOW_FEAT_NO_HEADER;
> > +       tool->merge_deferred_callchains = true;
> >
> >         tool->sample = process_event_sample_stub;
> >         tool->mmap = process_event_stub;
> > diff --git a/tools/perf/util/tool.h b/tools/perf/util/tool.h
> > index 9b9f0a8cbf3de4b5..e96b69d25a5b737d 100644
> > --- a/tools/perf/util/tool.h
> > +++ b/tools/perf/util/tool.h
> > @@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ struct perf_tool {
> >         bool            cgroup_events;
> >         bool            no_warn;
> >         bool            dont_split_sample_group;
> > +       bool            merge_deferred_callchains;
> >         enum show_feature_header show_feat_hdr;
> >  };
> >
> > --
> > 2.52.0.rc1.455.g30608eb744-goog
> >

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