Reduce CPU overhead of per-event tools by allowing more buffering
- Dominant language
- C
- Stars
- 22.7k
- Forks
- 4.1k
- Avg merge
- 5d 13h
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 3
Description
Not a big problem yet, but at some point we should look into this...
The normal perf_output-consuming loop we've been using is:
```
while 1:
b.kprobe_poll()
```
This wakes up as quickly as it can, and can consume noticeable CPU. I had to tune it for my cpuunclaimed tool:
```
while 1:
# allow some buffering by calling sleep(), to reduce the context switch
# rate and lower overhead.
try:
if not exiting:
sleep(wakeup_s)
except KeyboardInterrupt:
exiting = 1
b.kprobe_poll()
slept += wakeup_s
```
This ticket is to explore doing this for more tools. Should b.kprobe_poll() have a built-in sleep, that can be tuned? Eg, 100ms by default?
This is more practical now we have #997, and can increase the buffer size.
Contributor guide
No contributing guide indexed for this repository
Research direction
The issue names the b.kprobe_poll() loop, the cpuunclaimed tool, perf_output consumers, and #997; start by tracing that polling entry point and comparing it with cpuunclaimed’s sleep-based loop. Review which tools use this pattern and how the buffer-size change affects them. Done requires a scoped, measured decision about tunable buffering or sleep behavior.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- linux, python
- Domain
- performance
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100