Re: [PATCH 1/4] tools/nolibc: unistd.h: add __syscall() and __syscall_ret() helpers

From: Zhangjin Wu
Date: Mon Jun 05 2023 - 05:33:52 EST


> On Mon, Jun 05, 2023 at 01:58:57PM +0800, Zhangjin Wu wrote:
> > > What about something like this:
> > >
> > > static inline long __ret_as_errno(long ret) /* or some other name */
> > > {
> > > if (ret < 0) {
> > > SET_ERRNO(-ret);
> > > ret = -1;
> > > }
> > > return ret;
> > > }
> > >
> > > This avoids another macro by using a normal function.
> > >
> >
> > It is reasonable, like it very much.
> >
> > > Syscall return values should always fit into long, at least
> > > extra polating from syscall(2) and the fact that they are returned in
> > > registers.
> >
> > Yes, I did use 'long' instead of 'int' for unistd.h locally, but since tried to
> > let it work with 'void *' before (e.g. sys_brk, an older version support pass
> > the errno value), so, the typeof() is used and the same to unistd.h, but at
> > last, none of (void *) return type is really used in current patchset, so, we
> > are able to use this normal function version without the checking of the type.
> >
> > >
> > > It would be a bit more verbose:
> > >
> > > int chdir(const char *path)
> > > {
> > > return __ret_as_errno(sys_chdir(path));
> > > }
> > >
> > > But it's clear what's going on and also just one line.
> >
> > Thanks Thomas, It looks good and I do like the 'embedded' calling of
> > sys_chrdir(path), but __syscall() looks cleaner and shorter too, let's put them
> > together:
> >
> > int chdir(const char *path)
> > {
> > return __ret_as_errno(sys_chdir(path));
> > }
> >
> > int chdir(const char *path)
> > {
> > return __syscall(chdir, path);
> > }
> >
> > And even with:
> >
> > int chdir(const char *path)
> > {
> > return __sysret(sys_chdir(path));
> > }
> >
> > __syscall() works likes syscall(), and the definition is similar to syscall(),
> > but uses the syscall name instead of syscall number, If reserve __syscall(),
> > the inline function would be renamed back to __syscall_ret() or something like
> > the shorter __sysret(), to align with our new __syscall().
> >
> > for sys.h:
> >
> > /* Syscall return helper, set errno as ret when ret < 0 */
> > static inline long __sysret(long ret)
> > {
> > if (ret < 0) {
> > SET_ERRNO(-ret);
> > ret = -1;
> > }
> > return ret;
> > }
> >
> > /* Syscall call helper, use syscall name instead of syscall number */
> > #define __syscall(name, ...) __sysret(sys_##name(__VA_ARGS__))
> >
> > for unistd.h:
> >
> > #define _syscall(N, ...) __sysret(my_syscall##N(__VA_ARGS__))
> >
> > What about this version?
> >
> > The potential 'issue' may be mixing the use of __syscall(), _syscall() and
> > syscall(), but the compilers may help to fix up this for us, I don't think it
> > is a bottleneck.
>
> I think that could work. However, please place __attribute__((always_inline))
> on these inline functions, as we don't want to turn them to function calls
> even at -O0.

Thanks, done.

>
> I'm traveling today, I'll let you and Thomas debate and decide how you'd
> like this to evolve.
>

Happy traveling.

This revision is basically derived from the 'long' type information and
__ret_as_errno() from Thomas, I will wait suggestion from Thomas and then send
v2 later.

> Also, please note that Paul is OK with merging for 6.5, but we should
> absolutely limit last-minute changes to the strict minimum we're able
> to test now.

Strongly agree, we can delay this and the left time64 syscalls to 6.6, because
they require more cleanup and discussion.

Best regards,
Zhangjin

>
> Thanks!
> Willy