README
1It has been said that successful communication requires first identifying
2what your audience knows and then building a bridge from their current
3knowledge to what they need to know. Unfortunately, the expected
4Linux-kernel memory model (LKMM) audience might be anywhere from novice
5to expert both in kernel hacking and in understanding LKMM.
6
7This document therefore points out a number of places to start reading,
8depending on what you know and what you would like to learn. Please note
9that the documents later in this list assume that the reader understands
10the material provided by documents earlier in this list.
11
12o You are new to Linux-kernel concurrency: simple.txt
13
14o You have some background in Linux-kernel concurrency, and would
15 like an overview of the types of low-level concurrency primitives
16 that the Linux kernel provides: ordering.txt
17
18 Here, "low level" means atomic operations to single variables.
19
20o You are familiar with the Linux-kernel concurrency primitives
21 that you need, and just want to get started with LKMM litmus
22 tests: litmus-tests.txt
23
24o You are familiar with Linux-kernel concurrency, and would
25 like a detailed intuitive understanding of LKMM, including
26 situations involving more than two threads: recipes.txt
27
28o You would like a detailed understanding of what your compiler can
29 and cannot do to control dependencies: control-dependencies.txt
30
31o You are familiar with Linux-kernel concurrency and the use of
32 LKMM, and would like a quick reference: cheatsheet.txt
33
34o You are familiar with Linux-kernel concurrency and the use
35 of LKMM, and would like to learn about LKMM's requirements,
36 rationale, and implementation: explanation.txt
37
38o You are interested in the publications related to LKMM, including
39 hardware manuals, academic literature, standards-committee
40 working papers, and LWN articles: references.txt
41
42
43====================
44DESCRIPTION OF FILES
45====================
46
47README
48 This file.
49
50cheatsheet.txt
51 Quick-reference guide to the Linux-kernel memory model.
52
53control-dependencies.txt
54 Guide to preventing compiler optimizations from destroying
55 your control dependencies.
56
57explanation.txt
58 Detailed description of the memory model.
59
60litmus-tests.txt
61 The format, features, capabilities, and limitations of the litmus
62 tests that LKMM can evaluate.
63
64ordering.txt
65 Overview of the Linux kernel's low-level memory-ordering
66 primitives by category.
67
68recipes.txt
69 Common memory-ordering patterns.
70
71references.txt
72 Background information.
73
74simple.txt
75 Starting point for someone new to Linux-kernel concurrency.
76 And also a reminder of the simpler approaches to concurrency!
77