From: Ingo Molnar on

* Linus Torvalds <torvalds(a)linux-foundation.org> wrote:

> On Tue, 25 May 2010, Ingo Molnar wrote:
> >
> > 75 files changed, 1847 insertions(+), 3147 deletions(-)
>
> I was excited by this ("A code _reduction_! Will wonders never cease?"), but
> it turns out that all of the reduction was due to removing some unused
> utility functions from the user-level tools.

Simple things first and maybe it turns into a habit!

> The actual kernel still grew:
>
> 32 files changed, 1327 insertions(+), 964 deletions(-)
>
> oh well. Merged anyway.

Hey, while i have to admit to being a member of the infinitely large group of
kernel developers working hard to ensure that the kernel's size follows
Moore's Law - this time i beg to differ, as we _did_ manage to shrink the
kernel! ;-)

Here's the before/after vmlinux comparison:

(x86 defconfig, 64-bit): vmlinux:

text data bss dec hex filename
.......................................................
cad719d (before): 8441843 1281100 983876 10706819 a35f83 vmlinux
c5617b2 ( after): 8417488 1277724 983876 10679088 a2f330 vmlinux
.......................................................
-24.35K -3.37K
-0.28% -0.26%

Ob'Suggestion: we could help debloating efforts by officially declaring to
take provably-debloating patches up to -rc4? (with a vmlinux comparison
mandated in the changelog or such)

Debloating patches tend to reduce complexity, and hence are more
regression-resistent. (They are also rare, so it's not like we would be
risking a flood of patches.)

That would be a clever way to redirect the creative energies of kernel
developers who are otherwise bored by -rc1's legendary stability and always
try to sneak further features upstream post -rc1.

Such a policy would mean that while the merge window for bloating patches is a
strict ~1.5 weeks, the merge window for debloating patches would be a generous
~1.5 months.

Maybe such a mild hint would help propagate the idea some more.

Dunno - just an idea,

Ingo
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