Re: [RFC PATCH 1/8] mm: Switch mm->get_unmapped_area() to a flag

From: Liam R. Howlett
Date: Thu Feb 15 2024 - 21:16:06 EST


* Dave Hansen <dave.hansen@xxxxxxxxx> [240215 19:30]:
> On 2/15/24 15:13, Rick Edgecombe wrote:
> > The mm_struct contains a function pointer *get_unmapped_area(), which
> > is set to either arch_get_unmapped_area() or
> > arch_get_unmapped_area_topdown() during the initialization of the mm.
> >
> > Since the function pointer only ever points to two functions that are named
> > the same across all arch's, a function pointer is not really required. In
> > addition future changes will want to add versions of the functions that
> > take additional arguments. So to save a pointers worth of bytes in
> > mm_struct, and prevent adding additional function pointers to mm_struct in
> > future changes, remove it and keep the information about which
> > get_unmapped_area() to use in a flag.
>
> Indirect calls are just all kinds of evil, especially when Spectre-v2 is
> in play. This is a really good idea.
>
> Acked-by: Dave Hansen <dave.hansen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Yes, this change can stand on its own I believe.

Acked-by: Liam R. Howlett <Liam.Howlett@xxxxxxxxxx>