Re: [PATCH 09/10] x86-32: use SSE for atomic64_read/set if available

From: H. Peter Anvin
Date: Thu Feb 18 2010 - 14:07:14 EST


On 02/18/2010 10:49 AM, Luca Barbieri wrote:
>> This really sounds like the wrong optimization. These functions aren't
>> exactly all that complex in assembly (which would also allow them to be
>> simple cli/do stuff/sti), and instead relying on gcc features which may
>> or may not be well supported on x86 is inviting breakage down the line.
>>
>> That is particularly damaging, since the remaining 486-class users tend
>> to be deeply embedded and thus we only find problems later.
>
> There is the downside of adding a whole 386/486-specific implementation.
>
> It's not too hard though, and if we don't care about 486 SMP, it may
> be a better option.

We don't care about 486 SMP. And yes, I think it is a better option.
At least an assembly option, once implemented, will *stay* implemented
and won't break due to some obscure gcc change.

-hpa

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