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Date:      Fri, 3 Dec 1999 14:09:34 -0800
From:      Jason Evans <jasone@canonware.com>
To:        Jonathon McKitrick <jcm@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org>
Cc:        freebsd-chat <chat@freebsd.org>
Subject:   Re: kernel threads
Message-ID:  <19991203140934.I44892@sturm.canonware.com>
In-Reply-To: <Pine.BSF.4.02A.9912031441210.99342-100000@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org>; from jcm@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org on Fri, Dec 03, 1999 at 02:45:27PM %2B0000
References:  <Pine.BSF.4.02A.9912031441210.99342-100000@dogma.freebsd-uk.eu.org>

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On Fri, Dec 03, 1999 at 02:45:27PM +0000, Jonathon McKitrick wrote:
> I understand that there are a lot of issues to be settled if FreeBSD ever
> decides to implement kernel threads.  What i haven't seen (or what i may
> have missed) is: when are they scheduled to be included in the system?
> Are they tentative for 4.0?  Or sometime beyond?  Do us regular users need
> to worry about massive instability problems with such a radically
> different approach to multi-tasking?  I know FreeBSD is concerned with
> stability, and tests thoroughly, but obviously bugs will slip through, and
> this is a major change in architecture, if i understand correctly.

As Jordan is so fond of pointing out, FreeBSD as a free software project is
generally unable to realistically say, "such and such vaporware will be
ready for release X".  That's because most of the developers don't get paid
for the work, and so are under no obligation to deliver at all, let alone
by an arbitrary deadline.

What can be said is that the current visions for the "ultimate" threading
system will *not* be part of 4.0; there is simply too much to do for it to
be ready in two weeks, no matter how hard anyone tries.  The userland
threads support is in pretty good shape, and work is being done to get the
LinuxThreads port whipped into shape by the time 4.0 is released.  Neither
solution is ideal, but they will have to do until the new threading
architecture and all the prerequisite SMP improvements are developed.

Jason


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