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Date:      Fri, 08 Apr 2005 10:28:36 -0700
From:      Sam Leffler <sam@errno.com>
To:        Poul-Henning Kamp <phk@phk.freebsd.dk>
Cc:        src-committers@FreeBSD.org
Subject:   Re: cvs commit: src/sys/kern kern_mutex.c
Message-ID:  <4256BF44.2000100@errno.com>
In-Reply-To: <19677.1112980993@critter.freebsd.dk>
References:  <19677.1112980993@critter.freebsd.dk>

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Poul-Henning Kamp wrote:
> In message <4256B3EF.5090702@errno.com>, Sam Leffler writes:
> 
> 
>>I agree with bde.  One major distinction I've noticed between Linux and 
>>BSD systems is that Linux uses sysctls (aka /proc) in lieu of user-mode 
>>tools that retrieve and format data.  While this is a reasonable 
>>approach when you're distributing only a kernel that's not the case 
>>here.  For debug info I can buy doing it (e.g. single user and no apps 
> 
>>from src/tools), but otherwise we're just adding stuff to the kernel 
> 
>>that belongs in apps.
> 
> 
> The reason I disagree is that the amount of code it takes to convert
> the data to an export format and the overhead of having a program in
> userspace format it into text is ridiculous compared to just formatting
> things in the kernel to begin with.

My experience is the opposite.

> 
> And besides, a formatted sysctl has no binary compatibility issues at
> all.  I like that too.
> 

Sure, that's the downside; you need to design binary protocols with care 
(this is a protocol after all).

	Sam



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