Threaded Awesome

Threaded Awesome (that’s an oxymoron) Joe Damato and Aman Gupta

About Joe Damato From NJ, Godfather II is actually my Biography CMU/VMWare alum http://timetobleed.com @joedamato

About Aman Gupta EventMachine, amqp Ruby Hero 2009 github.com/tmm1 @tmm1

What is a thread? source: wikipedia

What is a thread?

What is a thread? A thread is just a set of execution state

What is a thread? A thread is just a set of execution state This state usually includes:

What is a thread? A thread is just a set of execution state This state usually includes: instruction & stack pointers

What is a thread? A thread is just a set of execution state This state usually includes: instruction & stack pointers scheduling priority

What is a thread? A thread is just a set of execution state This state usually includes: instruction & stack pointers scheduling priority other CPU state

Threading Models Green threads (1:N) Native Threads (1:1) Hybrid (M:N)

Green Threads (1:N)

Green Threads (1:N) “Green” because they are light weight

Green Threads (1:N) “Green” because they are light weight Kernel doesn’t know they exist

Green Threads (1:N) “Green” because they are light weight Kernel doesn’t know they exist Implementation is in userland

Green Threads (1:N) “Green” because they are light weight Kernel doesn’t know they exist Implementation is in userland Pros

Green Threads (1:N) “Green” because they are light weight Kernel doesn’t know they exist Implementation is in userland Pros Create lots of them cheaply (10,000s)

Green Threads (1:N) “Green” because they are light weight Kernel doesn’t know they exist Implementation is in userland Pros Create lots of them cheaply (10,000s) Switch between them cheaply (Ruby doesn’t)

Green Threads (1:N) “Green” because they are light weight Kernel doesn’t know they exist Implementation is in userland Pros Create lots of them cheaply (10,000s) Switch between them cheaply (Ruby doesn’t) Schedule them however you want

Green Threads (1:N) “Green” because they are light weight Kernel doesn’t know they exist Implementation is in userland Pros Create lots of them cheaply (10,000s) Switch between them cheaply (Ruby doesn’t) Schedule them however you want Cons

Green Threads (1:N) “Green” because they are light weight Kernel doesn’t know they exist Implementation is in userland Pros Create lots of them cheaply (10,000s) Switch between them cheaply (Ruby doesn’t) Schedule them however you want Cons A blocking call in one blocks ALL

Green Threads (1:N) “Green” because they are light weight Kernel doesn’t know they exist Implementation is in userland Pros Create lots of them cheaply (10,000s) Switch between them cheaply (Ruby doesn’t) Schedule them however you want Cons A blocking call in one blocks ALL Kernel doesn’t know about them

Green Threads (1:N) “Green” because they are light weight Kernel doesn’t know they exist Implementation is in userland Pros Create lots of them cheaply (10,000s) Switch between them cheaply (Ruby doesn’t) Schedule them however you want Cons A blocking call in one blocks ALL Kernel doesn’t know about them Can’t take advantage of SMP

Green Threads (1:N) (pics or it didn’t happen)

Ruby 1.8 uses Green Threads (and does it wrong)

Native Threads (1:1)

Native Threads (1:1) Native Threads

Native Threads (1:1) Native Threads Kernel knows they exist

Native Threads (1:1) Native Threads Kernel knows they exist Some userland code (libpthread)

Native Threads (1:1) Native Threads Kernel knows they exist Some userland code (libpthread) Pros

Native Threads (1:1) Native Threads Kernel knows they exist Some userland code (libpthread) Pros Take advantage of SMP

Native Threads (1:1) Native Threads Kernel knows they exist Some userland code (libpthread) Pros Take advantage of SMP Shared memory

Native Threads (1:1) Native Threads Kernel knows they exist Some userland code (libpthread) Pros Take advantage of SMP Shared memory Blocking in one thread doesn’t block everyone

Native Threads (1:1) Native Threads Kernel knows they exist Some userland code (libpthread) Pros Take advantage of SMP Shared memory Blocking in one thread doesn’t block everyone Don’t have to write a scheduler

Native Threads (1:1) Native Threads Kernel knows they exist Some userland code (libpthread) Pros Take advantage of SMP Shared memory Blocking in one thread doesn’t block everyone Don’t have to write a scheduler Cons

Native Threads (1:1) Native Threads Kernel knows they exist Some userland code (libpthread) Pros Take advantage of SMP Shared memory Blocking in one thread doesn’t block everyone Don’t have to write a scheduler Cons Overhead limits how many you can create

Native Threads (1:1) Native Threads Kernel knows they exist Some userland code (libpthread) Pros Take advantage of SMP Shared memory Blocking in one thread doesn’t block everyone Don’t have to write a scheduler Cons Overhead limits how many you can create Bugs (glibc, more threads = slower creation time)

Native Threads (1:1) Native Threads Kernel knows they exist Some userland code (libpthread) Pros Take advantage of SMP Shared memory Blocking in one thread doesn’t block everyone Don’t have to write a scheduler Cons Overhead limits how many you can create Bugs (glibc, more threads = slower creation time) Don’t have fine grained scheduling control

Native Threads (1:1)

Ruby 1.9 uses Native Threads (but.. they don’t execute in parallel)

Hybrid Threads (M:N)

Hybrid Threads (M:N) Hybrid threads

Hybrid Threads (M:N) Hybrid threads Almost best of both worlds

Hybrid Threads (M:N) Hybrid threads Almost best of both worlds Pros

Hybrid Threads (M:N) Hybrid threads Almost best of both worlds Pros Take advantage of SMP

Hybrid Threads (M:N) Hybrid threads Almost best of both worlds Pros Take advantage of SMP Cheap setup and teardown

Hybrid Threads (M:N) Hybrid threads Almost best of both worlds Pros Take advantage of SMP Cheap setup and teardown Blocking in one thread doesn’t block everyone

Hybrid Threads (M:N) Hybrid threads Almost best of both worlds Pros Take advantage of SMP Cheap setup and teardown Blocking in one thread doesn’t block everyone Cons

Hybrid Threads (M:N) Hybrid threads Almost best of both worlds Pros Take advantage of SMP Cheap setup and teardown Blocking in one thread doesn’t block everyone Cons Need 2 schedulers (userland + kernel)

Hybrid Threads (M:N) Hybrid threads Almost best of both worlds Pros Take advantage of SMP Cheap setup and teardown Blocking in one thread doesn’t block everyone Cons Need 2 schedulers (userland + kernel) Need to make them actually work together

Hybrid Threads (M:N) Hybrid threads Almost best of both worlds Pros Take advantage of SMP Cheap setup and teardown Blocking in one thread doesn’t block everyone Cons Need 2 schedulers (userland + kernel) Need to make them actually work together All green threads backed by same native thread can be blocked

Hybrid Threads (M:N)

Erlang uses Hybrid Threads Ruby 1.9, too (with fibers)

Multitasking Types Preemptive Multitasking Cooperative Multitasking

Preemptive Multitasking

Preemptive Multitasking Outside event (timer) signals end of CPU slice

Preemptive Multitasking Outside event (timer) signals end of CPU slice Handle important events quickly

Preemptive Multitasking Outside event (timer) signals end of CPU slice Handle important events quickly Can help ensure everyone gets to execute

Preemptive Multitasking Outside event (timer) signals end of CPU slice Handle important events quickly Can help ensure everyone gets to execute But..

Preemptive Multitasking Outside event (timer) signals end of CPU slice Handle important events quickly Can help ensure everyone gets to execute But.. Need to build a smart scheduler

Preemptive Multitasking Outside event (timer) signals end of CPU slice Handle important events quickly Can help ensure everyone gets to execute But.. Need to build a smart scheduler Can yield non-determistic execution order

Cooperative Multitasking

Cooperative Multitasking Threads voluntarily release the CPU

Cooperative Multitasking Threads voluntarily release the CPU Give up the CPU when it is “optimal”

Cooperative Multitasking Threads voluntarily release the CPU Give up the CPU when it is “optimal” Can guarantee deterministic execution order

Cooperative Multitasking Threads voluntarily release the CPU Give up the CPU when it is “optimal” Can guarantee deterministic execution order Very simple “scheduler”

Cooperative Multitasking Threads voluntarily release the CPU Give up the CPU when it is “optimal” Can guarantee deterministic execution order Very simple “scheduler” But..

Cooperative Multitasking Threads voluntarily release the CPU Give up the CPU when it is “optimal” Can guarantee deterministic execution order Very simple “scheduler” But.. Badly written code can hang all threads

So, what is a fiber? In Ruby fibers are green threads with cooperative multitasking.

So what’s the deal with ruby threads? strace google-perftools ltrace gdb

strace trace system calls and signals strace -cp <pid> strace -ttTp <pid> -o <file>

strace -cp <pid> -c Count time, calls, and errors for each system call and report a summary on program exit. -p pid Attach to the process with the process ID pid and begin tracing. % time seconds usecs/call calls errors syscall ------ ----------- ----------- --------- --------- ---------------- 50.39 0.000064 0 1197 592 read 34.65 0.000044 0 609 writev 14.96 0.000019 0 1226 epoll_ctl 0.00 0.000000 0 4 close 0.00 0.000000 0 1 select 0.00 0.000000 0 4 socket 0.00 0.000000 0 4 4 connect 0.00 0.000000 0 1057 epoll_wait ------ ----------- ----------- --------- --------- ---------------- 100.00 0.000127 4134 596 total

strace -ttTp <pid> -o <file> -t Prefix each line of the trace with the time of day. -tt If given twice, the time printed will include the microseconds. -T Show the time spent in system calls. This records the time difference between the beginning and the end of each system call. -o filename Write the trace output to the file filename rather than to stderr. 01:09:11.266949 epoll_wait(9, {{EPOLLIN, {u32=68841296, u64=68841296}}}, 4096, 50) = 1 <0.033109> 01:09:11.300102 accept(10, {sa_family=AF_INET, sin_port=38313, sin_addr="127.0.0.1"}, [1226]) = 22 <0.000014> 01:09:11.300190 fcntl(22, F_GETFL) = 0x2 (flags O_RDWR) <0.000007> 01:09:11.300237 fcntl(22, F_SETFL, O_RDWR|O_NONBLOCK) = 0 <0.000008> 01:09:11.300277 setsockopt(22, SOL_TCP, TCP_NODELAY, [1], 4) = 0 <0.000008> 01:09:11.300489 accept(10, 0x7fff5d9c07d0, [1226]) = -1 EAGAIN <0.000014> 01:09:11.300547 epoll_ctl(9, EPOLL_CTL_ADD, 22, {EPOLLIN, {u32=108750368, u64=108750368}}) = 0 <0.000009> 01:09:11.300593 epoll_wait(9, {{EPOLLIN, {u32=108750368, u64=108750368}}}, 4096, 50) = 1 <0.000007> 01:09:11.300633 read(22, "GET / HTTP/1.1r"..., 16384) = 772 <0.000012> 01:09:11.301727 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_SETMASK, [], NULL, 8) = 0 <0.000007> 01:09:11.302095 poll([{fd=5, events=POLLIN|POLLPRI}], 1, 0) = 0 (Timeout) <0.000008> 01:09:11.302144 write(5, "1000000-0003SELECT * FROM `table`"..., 56) = 56 <0.000023> 01:09:11.302221 read(5, "25101,20x234m"..., 16384) = 284 <1.300897>

Let’s strace ruby..

Let’s strace ruby.. 15:45:51.658164 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.658244 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 2207807 <0.000009> 15:45:51.678208 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.678271 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 0 <0.000009> 15:45:51.698161 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.698216 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 140734552062624 <0.000009> 15:45:51.718154 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.718192 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 140734552066688 <0.000009> 15:45:51.738185 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.738221 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 11333952 <0.000008> 15:45:51.758162 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.758216 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 0 <0.000009> 15:45:51.778223 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.778296 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 0 <0.000009> 15:45:51.798170 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.798244 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 2298980 <0.000009> 15:45:51.818168 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.819817 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 1 <0.000010> 15:45:51.838196 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) ---

Let’s strace ruby.. 15:45:51.658164 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.658244 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 2207807 <0.000009> 15:45:51.678208 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.678271 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 0 <0.000009> 15:45:51.698161 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.698216 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 140734552062624 <0.000009> 15:45:51.718154 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.718192 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 140734552066688 <0.000009> 15:45:51.738185 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.738221 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 11333952 <0.000008> 15:45:51.758162 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.758216 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 0 <0.000009> 15:45:51.778223 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.778296 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 0 <0.000009> 15:45:51.798170 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.798244 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 2298980 <0.000009> 15:45:51.818168 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- 15:45:51.819817 rt_sigreturn(0x1a) = 1 <0.000010> 15:45:51.838196 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- wtf is SIGVTALRM?

ruby uses setitimer and signals to schedule green threads* The first time a new thread is created, ruby calls: setitimer(ITIMER_VIRTUAL, 10ms): tell the kernel to send the process a SIGVTALRM every 10ms posix_signal(SIGVTALRM, catch_timer): bind the catch_timer function to the signal * when compiled without --enable-pthread

static void catch_timer(sig) int sig; { if (!rb_thread_critical) { static VALUE rb_thread_pending = 1; rb_thread_start_0(fn, arg, th) } VALUE (*fn)(); /* cause EINTR */ void *arg; } rb_thread_t th; { void if (!thread_init) { rb_thread_start_timer() thread_init = 1; { posix_signal(SIGVTALRM, catch_timer); struct itimerval tval; rb_thread_start_timer(); } if (!thread_init) return; tval.it_interval.tv_sec = 0; /* ... */ tval.it_interval.tv_usec = 10000; } tval.it_value = tval.it_interval; setitimer(ITIMER_VIRTUAL, &tval, NULL); }

static void catch_timer(sig) int sig; { if (!rb_thread_critical) { static VALUE rb_thread_pending = 1; rb_thread_start_0(fn, arg, th) } VALUE (*fn)(); /* cause EINTR */ void *arg; } rb_thread_t th; { void if (!thread_init) { rb_thread_start_timer() thread_init = 1; { posix_signal(SIGVTALRM, catch_timer); struct itimerval tval; rb_thread_start_timer(); } if (!thread_init) return; tval.it_interval.tv_sec = 0; /* ... */ tval.it_interval.tv_usec = 10000; } tval.it_value = tval.it_interval; setitimer(ITIMER_VIRTUAL, &tval, NULL); } strace -e trace=setitimer ruby threaded.rb setitimer(ITIMER_VIRTUAL, {it_interval={0, 10000}, it_value={0, 10000}}, NULL) = 0 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) ---

But I’m not using threads! begin # require 'net/http' # Net::HTTP.new(host, port).request(...) # require 'net/smtp' # Net::SMTP.new('localhost').send_message(...) require 'timeout' Timeout.timeout(0.1) do 1+2*3/4 while true end rescue Timeout::Error end 500_000_000.times{ |i| i * 2 }

But I’m not using threads! begin # require 'net/http' # Net::HTTP.new(host, port).request(...) uses timeout # require 'net/smtp' # Net::SMTP.new('localhost').send_message(...) require 'timeout' Timeout.timeout(0.1) do 1+2*3/4 while true end rescue Timeout::Error end 500_000_000.times{ |i| i * 2 }

But I’m not using threads! begin # require 'net/http' # Net::HTTP.new(host, port).request(...) uses timeout # require 'net/smtp' # Net::SMTP.new('localhost').send_message(...) require 'timeout' Timeout.timeout(0.1) do uses threads 1+2*3/4 while true end rescue Timeout::Error end 500_000_000.times{ |i| i * 2 }

But I’m not using threads! begin # require 'net/http' # Net::HTTP.new(host, port).request(...) uses timeout # require 'net/smtp' # Net::SMTP.new('localhost').send_message(...) require 'timeout' Timeout.timeout(0.1) do uses threads 1+2*3/4 while true end rescue Timeout::Error end 500_000_000.times{ |i| i * 2 } Thread.new, Timeout.timeout and Net::* all use threads and start the thread timer Once the timer is started, it will interrupt your process every 10ms, even if all threads are killed

PATCH: stop the thread timer @@ -10518,6 +10520,15 @@ rb_thread_remove(th) rb_thread_die(th); th->prev->next = th->next; th->next->prev = th->prev; + + /* if this is the last ruby thread, stop timer signals */ + if (th->next == th->prev && th->next == main_thread) { + rb_thread_stop_timer(); + thread_init = 0; + } }

PATCH: stop the thread timer @@ -10518,6 +10520,15 @@ rb_thread_remove(th) rb_thread_die(th); th->prev->next = th->next; th->next->prev = th->prev; + + /* if this is the last ruby thread, stop timer signals */ + if (th->next == th->prev && th->next == main_thread) { + rb_thread_stop_timer(); + thread_init = 0; + } } strace -e trace=setitimer ruby threaded.rb setitimer(ITIMER_VIRTUAL, {it_interval={0, 10000}, it_value={0, 10000}}, NULL) = 0 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) @ 0 (0) --- setitimer(ITIMER_VIRTUAL, {it_interval={0, 0}, it_value={0, 0}}, NULL) = 0

Why are our debian servers so slow?

Why are our debian servers so slow? strace -ttT ruby threaded.rb 18:42:39.566788 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, [], 8) = 0 <0.000006> 18:42:39.566836 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, [], 8) = 0 <0.000006> 18:42:39.567083 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_SETMASK, [], NULL, 8) = 0 <0.000006> 18:42:39.567131 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, [], 8) = 0 <0.000006> 18:42:39.567415 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, [], 8) = 0 <0.000006>

Why are our debian servers so slow? strace -c ruby threaded.rb % time seconds usecs/call calls errors syscall ------ ----------- ----------- --------- --------- ---------------- 100.00 0.326334 0 3568567 rt_sigprocmask 0.00 0.000000 0 9 read 0.00 0.000000 0 10 open 0.00 0.000000 0 10 close 0.00 0.000000 0 9 fstat 0.00 0.000000 0 25 mmap ------ ----------- ----------- --------- --------- ---------------- 100.00 0.326334 3568685 0 total strace -ttT ruby threaded.rb 18:42:39.566788 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, [], 8) = 0 <0.000006> 18:42:39.566836 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, [], 8) = 0 <0.000006> 18:42:39.567083 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_SETMASK, [], NULL, 8) = 0 <0.000006> 18:42:39.567131 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, [], 8) = 0 <0.000006> 18:42:39.567415 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, [], 8) = 0 <0.000006>

Why are our debian servers so slow? strace -c ruby threaded.rb % time seconds usecs/call calls errors syscall ------ ----------- ----------- --------- --------- ---------------- 100.00 0.326334 0 3568567 rt_sigprocmask 0.00 0.000000 0 9 read 0.00 0.000000 0 10 open 0.00 0.000000 0 10 close 0.00 0.000000 0 9 fstat 0.00 0.000000 0 25 mmap ------ ----------- ----------- --------- --------- ---------------- 100.00 0.326334 3568685 0 total strace -ttT ruby threaded.rb 18:42:39.566788 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, [], 8) = 0 <0.000006> 18:42:39.566836 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, [], 8) = 0 <0.000006> 18:42:39.567083 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_SETMASK, [], NULL, 8) = 0 <0.000006> 18:42:39.567131 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, [], 8) = 0 <0.000006> 18:42:39.567415 rt_sigprocmask(SIG_BLOCK, NULL, [], 8) = 0 <0.000006> 3.5 million sigprocmasks.. wtf?

What is --enable-pthread anyway? --- config.h.nopthread uses a pthread for +++ config.h @@ -173,6 +173,12 @@ timing instead of #define FILE_READEND _IO_read_end #define HAVE__SC_CLK_TCK 1 setitimer() #define STACK_GROW_DIRECTION -1 +#define _REENTRANT 1 +#define _THREAD_SAFE 1 useful for +#define HAVE_LIBPTHREAD 1 +#define HAVE_NANOSLEEP 1 compatibility with +#define HAVE_GETCONTEXT 1 +#define HAVE_SETCONTEXT 1 external libs that #define DEFAULT_KCODE KCODE_NONE #define USE_ELF 1 use pthreads or #define DLEXT_MAXLEN 3 signals (like ruby- #ifdef _THREAD_SAFE pthread_create(&time_thread, 0, tk) #else thread_timer, 0); rb_thread_start_timer(); #endif

What is --enable-pthread anyway? --- config.h.nopthread uses a pthread for +++ config.h @@ -173,6 +173,12 @@ timing instead of #define FILE_READEND _IO_read_end #define HAVE__SC_CLK_TCK 1 setitimer() #define STACK_GROW_DIRECTION -1 +#define _REENTRANT 1 +#define _THREAD_SAFE 1 useful for +#define HAVE_LIBPTHREAD 1 +#define HAVE_NANOSLEEP 1 compatibility with +#define HAVE_GETCONTEXT 1 +#define HAVE_SETCONTEXT 1 external libs that #define DEFAULT_KCODE KCODE_NONE #define USE_ELF 1 use pthreads or #define DLEXT_MAXLEN 3 signals (like ruby- #ifdef _THREAD_SAFE pthread_create(&time_thread, 0, tk) #else thread_timer, 0); rb_thread_start_timer(); #endif but.. it also enables getcontext/ setcontext??

What is --enable-pthread anyway? --- config.h.nopthread uses a pthread for +++ config.h @@ -173,6 +173,12 @@ timing instead of #define FILE_READEND _IO_read_end #define HAVE__SC_CLK_TCK 1 setitimer() #define STACK_GROW_DIRECTION -1 +#define _REENTRANT 1 +#define _THREAD_SAFE 1 useful for +#define HAVE_LIBPTHREAD 1 +#define HAVE_NANOSLEEP 1 compatibility with +#define HAVE_GETCONTEXT 1 +#define HAVE_SETCONTEXT 1 external libs that #define DEFAULT_KCODE KCODE_NONE #define USE_ELF 1 use pthreads or #define DLEXT_MAXLEN 3 signals (like ruby- #ifdef _THREAD_SAFE pthread_create(&time_thread, 0, ? tk) #else thread_timer, 0); rb_thread_start_timer(); #endif but.. it also #if defined(HAVE_GETCONTEXT) && enables getcontext/ defined(HAVE_SETCONTEXT) #include <ucontext.h> setcontext?? #define USE_CONTEXT #endif

ucontext?

ucontext? ruby can use either setjmp/longjmp or setcontext/getcontext in its threading implementation and for exception handling

ucontext? ruby can use either setjmp/longjmp or setcontext/getcontext in its threading implementation and for exception handling setjmp/longjmp save and restore the current cpu registers

ucontext? ruby can use either setjmp/longjmp or setcontext/getcontext in its threading implementation and for exception handling setjmp/longjmp save and restore the current cpu registers setcontext/getcontext are an advanced version of setjmp/longjmp, but they also call sigprocmask to save/restore the signal mask before each jump

PATCH: --disable-ucontext --- a/configure.in +++ b/configure.in @@ -368,6 +368,10 @@ +AC_ARG_ENABLE(ucontext, + [ --disable-ucontext do not use getcontext()/setcontext().], + [disable_ucontext=yes], [disable_ucontext=no]) + AC_ARG_ENABLE(pthread, [ --enable-pthread use pthread library.], [enable_pthread=$enableval], [enable_pthread=no]) @@ -1038,7 +1042,8 @@ -if test x"$ac_cv_header_ucontext_h" = xyes; then +if test x"$ac_cv_header_ucontext_h" = xyes && test x"$disable_ucontext" = xno; then if test x"$rb_with_pthread" = xyes; then AC_CHECK_FUNCS(getcontext setcontext) fi ./configure --enable-pthread --disable-ucontext

PATCH: --disable-ucontext --- a/configure.in +++ b/configure.in @@ -368,6 +368,10 @@ +AC_ARG_ENABLE(ucontext, + [ --disable-ucontext do not use getcontext()/setcontext().], + [disable_ucontext=yes], [disable_ucontext=no]) + AC_ARG_ENABLE(pthread, [ --enable-pthread use pthread library.], [enable_pthread=$enableval], [enable_pthread=no]) @@ -1038,7 +1042,8 @@ -if test x"$ac_cv_header_ucontext_h" = xyes; then +if test x"$ac_cv_header_ucontext_h" = xyes && test x"$disable_ucontext" = xno; then if test x"$rb_with_pthread" = xyes; then AC_CHECK_FUNCS(getcontext setcontext) fi ./configure --enable-pthread --disable-ucontext % time seconds usecs/call calls errors syscall ------ ----------- ----------- --------- --------- ---------------- nan 0.000000 0 13 read nan 0.000000 0 21 10 open nan 0.000000 0 11 close ------ ----------- ----------- --------- --------- ---------------- 100.00 0.000000 45 10 total

EventMachine + threads = slow?? EventMachine allocates large buffers on the stack to read/write from the network Using threads with EM made ruby extremely slow..

EventMachine + threads = slow?? EventMachine allocates large buffers on the stack to read/write from the network Using threads with EM made ruby extremely slow.. ...profile?

EventMachine + threads = slow?? EventMachine allocates large buffers on the stack to read/write from the network Using threads with EM made ruby extremely slow.. #include "ruby.h" require 'cext' VALUE bigstack(VALUE self) (1..2).map{ { Thread.new{ char buffer[ 50 * 1024 ]; /* large stack frame */ CExt.bigstack{ if (rb_block_given_p()) rb_yield(Qnil); 100_000.times{ return Qnil; 1*2+3/4 } Thread.pass } void Init_cext() } { } VALUE CExt = rb_define_module("CExt"); }.map{ |t| t.join } rb_define_singleton_method(CExt, "bigstack", bigstack, 0); } ...profile?

google-perftools Google’s CPU profiler export LD_PRELOAD=libprofiler.so export DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=libprofiler.dylib CPUPROFILE=/tmp/myprof ./myapp pprof ./myapp /tmp/myprof

wget http://google-perftools.googlecode.com/files/google- perftools-1.3.tar.gz tar zxvf google-perftools-1.3.tar.gz cd google-perftools-1.3 ./configure --prefix=/opt make sudo make install # for linux export LD_PRELOAD=/opt/lib/libprofiler.so # for osx export DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=/opt/lib/libprofiler.dylib CPUPROFILE=/tmp/ruby.prof ruby -e' 5_000_000.times{ "hello world" } ' pprof `which ruby` --text /tmp/ruby.prof

wget http://google-perftools.googlecode.com/files/google- perftools-1.3.tar.gz download tar zxvf google-perftools-1.3.tar.gz cd google-perftools-1.3 ./configure --prefix=/opt make sudo make install # for linux export LD_PRELOAD=/opt/lib/libprofiler.so # for osx export DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=/opt/lib/libprofiler.dylib CPUPROFILE=/tmp/ruby.prof ruby -e' 5_000_000.times{ "hello world" } ' pprof `which ruby` --text /tmp/ruby.prof

wget http://google-perftools.googlecode.com/files/google- perftools-1.3.tar.gz download tar zxvf google-perftools-1.3.tar.gz cd google-perftools-1.3 ./configure --prefix=/opt make compile sudo make install # for linux export LD_PRELOAD=/opt/lib/libprofiler.so # for osx export DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=/opt/lib/libprofiler.dylib CPUPROFILE=/tmp/ruby.prof ruby -e' 5_000_000.times{ "hello world" } ' pprof `which ruby` --text /tmp/ruby.prof

wget http://google-perftools.googlecode.com/files/google- perftools-1.3.tar.gz download tar zxvf google-perftools-1.3.tar.gz cd google-perftools-1.3 ./configure --prefix=/opt make compile sudo make install # for linux export LD_PRELOAD=/opt/lib/libprofiler.so setup # for osx export DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=/opt/lib/libprofiler.dylib CPUPROFILE=/tmp/ruby.prof ruby -e' 5_000_000.times{ "hello world" } ' pprof `which ruby` --text /tmp/ruby.prof

wget http://google-perftools.googlecode.com/files/google- perftools-1.3.tar.gz download tar zxvf google-perftools-1.3.tar.gz cd google-perftools-1.3 ./configure --prefix=/opt make compile sudo make install # for linux export LD_PRELOAD=/opt/lib/libprofiler.so setup # for osx export DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=/opt/lib/libprofiler.dylib CPUPROFILE=/tmp/ruby.prof ruby -e' profile 5_000_000.times{ "hello world" } ' pprof `which ruby` --text /tmp/ruby.prof

wget http://google-perftools.googlecode.com/files/google- perftools-1.3.tar.gz download tar zxvf google-perftools-1.3.tar.gz cd google-perftools-1.3 ./configure --prefix=/opt make compile sudo make install # for linux export LD_PRELOAD=/opt/lib/libprofiler.so setup # for osx export DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES=/opt/lib/libprofiler.dylib CPUPROFILE=/tmp/ruby.prof ruby -e' profile 5_000_000.times{ "hello world" } ' pprof `which ruby` --text /tmp/ruby.prof report

pprof ruby pprof ruby ruby.prof --text ruby.prof --gif Total: 103 samples 20 19.4% 19.4% 95 92.2% rb_yield_0 11 10.7% 30.1% 103 100.0% rb_eval 8 7.8% 37.9% 12 11.7% gc_sweep 3 2.9% 68.9% 52 50.5% rb_str_new3 3 2.9% 74.8% 3 2.9% obj_free 3 2.9% 77.7% 103 100.0% int_dotimes 3 2.9% 80.6% 12 11.7% gc_mark

Profiling EM + threads

Profiling EM + threads Total: 3763 samples 2764 73.5% catch_timer 989 26.3% memcpy 3 0.1% st_lookup 2 0.1% rb_thread_schedule 1 0.0% rb_eval 1 0.0% rb_newobj 1 0.0% rb_gc_force_recycle

Profiling EM + threads Total: 3763 samples 2764 73.5% catch_timer 989 26.3% memcpy 3 0.1% st_lookup 2 0.1% rb_thread_schedule 1 0.0% rb_eval 1 0.0% rb_newobj 1 0.0% rb_gc_force_recycle rb_thread_save_context

Profiling EM + threads Total: 3763 samples 2764 73.5% catch_timer 989 26.3% memcpy 3 0.1% st_lookup 2 0.1% rb_thread_schedule 1 0.0% rb_eval 1 0.0% rb_newobj 1 0.0% rb_gc_force_recycle rb_thread_save_context rb_thread_restore_context

Profiling EM + threads Total: 3763 samples 2764 73.5% catch_timer 989 26.3% memcpy 3 0.1% st_lookup 2 0.1% rb_thread_schedule 1 0.0% rb_eval 1 0.0% rb_newobj 1 0.0% rb_gc_force_recycle rb_thread_save_context rb_thread_restore_context memcpy???

Profiling EM + threads Total: 3763 samples 2764 73.5% catch_timer 989 26.3% memcpy 3 0.1% st_lookup 2 0.1% rb_thread_schedule 1 0.0% rb_eval 1 0.0% rb_newobj 1 0.0% rb_gc_force_recycle rb_thread_save_context rb_thread_restore_context memcpy??? really? memcpy?

ltrace trace library calls ltrace -cp <pid> ltrace -ttTp <pid> -o <file>

ltrace -c ruby cext_test.rb

ltrace -c ruby cext_test.rb % time seconds usecs/call calls function ------ ----------- ----------- --------- -------------------- 48.65 11.741295 617 19009 memcpy 30.16 7.279634 831 8751 longjmp 9.78 2.359889 135 17357 _setjmp 8.91 2.150565 285 7540 malloc 1.10 0.265946 20 13021 memset 0.81 0.195272 19 10105 __ctype_b_loc 0.35 0.084575 19 4361 strcmp 0.19 0.046163 19 2377 strlen 0.03 0.006272 23 265 realloc ------ ----------- ----------- --------- -------------------- 100.00 24.134999 82999 total

ltrace -c ruby cext_test.rb % time seconds usecs/call calls function ------ ----------- ----------- --------- -------------------- 48.65 11.741295 617 19009 memcpy really 30.16 7.279634 831 8751 longjmp 9.78 2.359889 135 17357 _setjmp 8.91 2.150565 285 7540 malloc 1.10 0.265946 20 13021 memset 0.81 0.195272 19 10105 __ctype_b_loc 0.35 0.084575 19 4361 strcmp 0.19 0.046163 19 2377 strlen 0.03 0.006272 23 265 realloc ------ ----------- ----------- --------- -------------------- 100.00 24.134999 82999 total

ltrace -c ruby cext_test.rb % time seconds usecs/call calls function ------ ----------- ----------- --------- -------------------- 48.65 11.741295 617 19009 memcpy really 30.16 7.279634 831 8751 longjmp 9.78 2.359889 135 17357 _setjmp 8.91 2.150565 285 7540 malloc 1.10 0.265946 20 13021 memset 0.81 0.195272 19 10105 __ctype_b_loc 0.35 0.084575 19 4361 strcmp 0.19 0.046163 19 2377 strlen 0.03 0.006272 23 265 realloc ------ ----------- ----------- --------- -------------------- 100.00 24.134999 82999 total ltrace -ttT -e memcpy ruby cext_test.rb 01:24:48.769408 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) --- 01:24:48.769616 memcpy(0x1216000, "", 1086328) = 0x1216000 <0.000578> 01:24:48.770555 memcpy(0x6e32670, "240&343v", 1086328) = 0x6e32670 <0.000418> 01:24:49.899414 --- SIGVTALRM (Virtual timer expired) --- 01:24:49.899490 memcpy(0x1320000, "", 1082584) = 0x1320000 <0.000628> 01:24:49.900474 memcpy(0x6e32670, "", 1086328) = 0x6e32670 <0.000479>

OK, its calling memcpy() but what is it copying?

OK, its calling memcpy() but what is it copying? static void static void rb_thread_save_context(th) rb_thread_restore_context(th) rb_thread_t th; rb_thread_t th; { { VALUE *pos; ruby_frame = th->frame; int len; ruby_scope = th->scope; ruby_setjmp(th->context); /* ... */ len = ruby_stack_length(&pos); MEMCPY(th->stk_pos, th->stk_pos = pos; th->stk_ptr, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->stk_len = len; ruby_longjmp(th->context); MEMCPY(th->stk_ptr, } th->stk_pos, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->frame = ruby_frame; th->scope = ruby_scope; /* ... */ }

OK, its calling memcpy() but what is it copying? static void static void rb_thread_save_context(th) rb_thread_restore_context(th) rb_thread_t th; rb_thread_t th; { { VALUE *pos; ruby_frame = th->frame; int len; ruby_scope = th->scope; ruby_setjmp(th->context); /* ... */ len = ruby_stack_length(&pos); MEMCPY(th->stk_pos, th->stk_pos = pos; th->stk_ptr, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->stk_len = len; ruby_longjmp(th->context); MEMCPY(th->stk_ptr, } th->stk_pos, VALUE, th->stk_len); 1. save cpu registers th->frame = ruby_frame; th->scope = ruby_scope; /* ... */ }

OK, its calling memcpy() but what is it copying? static void static void rb_thread_save_context(th) rb_thread_restore_context(th) rb_thread_t th; rb_thread_t th; { { VALUE *pos; ruby_frame = th->frame; int len; ruby_scope = th->scope; ruby_setjmp(th->context); /* ... */ len = ruby_stack_length(&pos); MEMCPY(th->stk_pos, th->stk_pos = pos; th->stk_ptr, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->stk_len = len; ruby_longjmp(th->context); MEMCPY(th->stk_ptr, } th->stk_pos, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->frame = ruby_frame; 2. save stack frames th->scope = ruby_scope; /* ... */ }

OK, its calling memcpy() but what is it copying? static void static void rb_thread_save_context(th) rb_thread_restore_context(th) rb_thread_t th; rb_thread_t th; { { VALUE *pos; ruby_frame = th->frame; int len; ruby_scope = th->scope; ruby_setjmp(th->context); /* ... */ len = ruby_stack_length(&pos); MEMCPY(th->stk_pos, th->stk_pos = pos; th->stk_ptr, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->stk_len = len; ruby_longjmp(th->context); MEMCPY(th->stk_ptr, } th->stk_pos, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->frame = ruby_frame; th->scope = ruby_scope; 3. save vm globals /* ... */ }

OK, its calling memcpy() but what is it copying? static void static void rb_thread_save_context(th) rb_thread_restore_context(th) rb_thread_t th; rb_thread_t th; { { VALUE *pos; ruby_frame = th->frame; int len; ruby_scope = th->scope; ruby_setjmp(th->context); /* ... */ len = ruby_stack_length(&pos); MEMCPY(th->stk_pos, th->stk_pos = pos; th->stk_ptr, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->stk_len = len; ruby_longjmp(th->context); MEMCPY(th->stk_ptr, } th->stk_pos, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->frame = ruby_frame; th->scope = ruby_scope; /* ... */ 4. restore vm globals }

OK, its calling memcpy() but what is it copying? static void static void rb_thread_save_context(th) rb_thread_restore_context(th) rb_thread_t th; rb_thread_t th; { { VALUE *pos; ruby_frame = th->frame; int len; ruby_scope = th->scope; ruby_setjmp(th->context); /* ... */ len = ruby_stack_length(&pos); MEMCPY(th->stk_pos, th->stk_pos = pos; th->stk_ptr, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->stk_len = len; ruby_longjmp(th->context); MEMCPY(th->stk_ptr, } th->stk_pos, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->frame = ruby_frame; th->scope = ruby_scope; /* ... */ } 5. restore stack frames

OK, its calling memcpy() but what is it copying? static void static void rb_thread_save_context(th) rb_thread_restore_context(th) rb_thread_t th; rb_thread_t th; { { VALUE *pos; ruby_frame = th->frame; int len; ruby_scope = th->scope; ruby_setjmp(th->context); /* ... */ len = ruby_stack_length(&pos); MEMCPY(th->stk_pos, th->stk_pos = pos; th->stk_ptr, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->stk_len = len; ruby_longjmp(th->context); MEMCPY(th->stk_ptr, } th->stk_pos, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->frame = ruby_frame; th->scope = ruby_scope; /* ... */ } 6. restore cpu registers

OK, its calling memcpy() but what is it copying? static void static void rb_thread_save_context(th) rb_thread_restore_context(th) rb_thread_t th; rb_thread_t th; { { VALUE *pos; ruby_frame = th->frame; int len; ruby_scope = th->scope; ruby_setjmp(th->context); /* ... */ len = ruby_stack_length(&pos); MEMCPY(th->stk_pos, th->stk_pos = pos; th->stk_ptr, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->stk_len = len; ruby_longjmp(th->context); MEMCPY(th->stk_ptr, } th->stk_pos, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->frame = ruby_frame; th->scope = ruby_scope; /* ... */ } it’s copying the stacks to the heap!

Stack vs. Heap

Stack vs. Heap Stack:

Stack vs. Heap Stack: Storage for local vars

Stack vs. Heap Stack: Storage for local vars Only valid while stack frame is on the stack!

Stack vs. Heap Stack: Storage for local vars Only valid while stack frame is on the stack! Keeping track of function calls

Stack vs. Heap Stack: Heap: Storage for local vars Only valid while stack frame is on the stack! Keeping track of function calls

Stack vs. Heap Stack: Heap: Storage for local vars Storage for vars that persist across function Only valid while stack calls. frame is on the stack! Keeping track of function calls

Stack vs. Heap Stack: Heap: Storage for local vars Storage for vars that persist across function Only valid while stack calls. frame is on the stack! Managed by malloc Keeping track of function calls

Stack vs. Heap func1() void *data; func2(); Stack: Heap: Storage for local vars Storage for vars that persist across function Only valid while stack calls. frame is on the stack! Managed by malloc Keeping track of function calls

Stack vs. Heap func1() 4 bytes void *data; func2(); Stack: Heap: Storage for local vars Storage for vars that persist across function Only valid while stack calls. frame is on the stack! Managed by malloc Keeping track of function calls

Stack vs. Heap func2() char *string = malloc(10); func3(); func1() 4 bytes void *data; func2(); Stack: Heap: Storage for local vars Storage for vars that persist across function Only valid while stack calls. frame is on the stack! Managed by malloc Keeping track of function calls

Stack vs. Heap func2() 4 bytes char *string = malloc(10); func3(); func1() 4 bytes void *data; func2(); Stack: Heap: Storage for local vars Storage for vars that persist across function Only valid while stack calls. frame is on the stack! Managed by malloc Keeping track of function calls

Stack vs. Heap func2() 4 bytes char *string = malloc(10); 10 bytes func3(); func1() 4 bytes void *data; func2(); Stack: Heap: Storage for local vars Storage for vars that persist across function Only valid while stack calls. frame is on the stack! Managed by malloc Keeping track of function calls

Stack vs. Heap func3() char buffer[8]; func2() 4 bytes char *string = malloc(10); 10 bytes func3(); func1() 4 bytes void *data; func2(); Stack: Heap: Storage for local vars Storage for vars that persist across function Only valid while stack calls. frame is on the stack! Managed by malloc Keeping track of function calls

Stack vs. Heap func3() 8 bytes char buffer[8]; func2() 4 bytes char *string = malloc(10); 10 bytes func3(); func1() 4 bytes void *data; func2(); Stack: Heap: Storage for local vars Storage for vars that persist across function Only valid while stack calls. frame is on the stack! Managed by malloc Keeping track of function calls

Stack vs. Heap func3() char buffer[8]; func2() 4 bytes char *string = malloc(10); 10 bytes func3(); func1() 4 bytes void *data; func2(); Stack: Heap: Storage for local vars Storage for vars that persist across function Only valid while stack calls. frame is on the stack! Managed by malloc Keeping track of function calls

Stack vs. Heap func2() 4 bytes char *string = malloc(10); 10 bytes func3(); func1() 4 bytes void *data; func2(); Stack: Heap: Storage for local vars Storage for vars that persist across function Only valid while stack calls. frame is on the stack! Managed by malloc Keeping track of function calls

memcpy()ing the thread stacks

memcpy()ing the thread stacks During execution

memcpy()ing the thread stacks During execution Saving current thread

memcpy()ing the thread stacks During execution Saving current thread Restoring next thread

memcpy()ing the thread stacks During execution Saving current thread Restoring next thread so, what’s on these thread stacks?

gdb the GNU debugger gdb <program> gdb <program> <pid> Be sure to build with: -ggdb -O0

gdb walkthrough

gdb walkthrough % gdb ./test-it (gdb) b average Breakpoint 1 at 0x1f8e: file test-it.c, line 3. (gdb) run Starting program: /Users/joe/test-it Reading symbols for shared libraries ++. done Breakpoint 1, average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 3 int sum = x + y; (gdb) bt #0 average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 #1 0x00001fec in main () at test-it.c:12 (gdb) s 4 double avg = sum / 2.0; (gdb) s 5 return avg; (gdb) p avg $1 = 5.5 (gdb) p sum $2 = 11

gdb walkthrough % gdb ./test-it start gdb (gdb) b average Breakpoint 1 at 0x1f8e: file test-it.c, line 3. (gdb) run Starting program: /Users/joe/test-it Reading symbols for shared libraries ++. done Breakpoint 1, average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 3 int sum = x + y; (gdb) bt #0 average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 #1 0x00001fec in main () at test-it.c:12 (gdb) s 4 double avg = sum / 2.0; (gdb) s 5 return avg; (gdb) p avg $1 = 5.5 (gdb) p sum $2 = 11

gdb walkthrough % gdb ./test-it (gdb) b average set breakpoint on function named average Breakpoint 1 at 0x1f8e: file test-it.c, line 3. (gdb) run Starting program: /Users/joe/test-it Reading symbols for shared libraries ++. done Breakpoint 1, average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 3 int sum = x + y; (gdb) bt #0 average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 #1 0x00001fec in main () at test-it.c:12 (gdb) s 4 double avg = sum / 2.0; (gdb) s 5 return avg; (gdb) p avg $1 = 5.5 (gdb) p sum $2 = 11

gdb walkthrough % gdb ./test-it (gdb) b average Breakpoint 1 at 0x1f8e: file test-it.c, line 3. (gdb) run run program Starting program: /Users/joe/test-it Reading symbols for shared libraries ++. done Breakpoint 1, average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 3 int sum = x + y; (gdb) bt #0 average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 #1 0x00001fec in main () at test-it.c:12 (gdb) s 4 double avg = sum / 2.0; (gdb) s 5 return avg; (gdb) p avg $1 = 5.5 (gdb) p sum $2 = 11

gdb walkthrough % gdb ./test-it (gdb) b average Breakpoint 1 at 0x1f8e: file test-it.c, line 3. (gdb) run Starting program: /Users/joe/test-it Reading symbols for shared libraries ++. done Breakpoint 1, average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 hit breakpoint! 3 int sum = x + y; (gdb) bt #0 average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 #1 0x00001fec in main () at test-it.c:12 (gdb) s 4 double avg = sum / 2.0; (gdb) s 5 return avg; (gdb) p avg $1 = 5.5 (gdb) p sum $2 = 11

gdb walkthrough % gdb ./test-it (gdb) b average Breakpoint 1 at 0x1f8e: file test-it.c, line 3. (gdb) run Starting program: /Users/joe/test-it Reading symbols for shared libraries ++. done Breakpoint 1, average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 3 int sum = x + y; (gdb) bt show backtrace #0 average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 #1 0x00001fec in main () at test-it.c:12 (gdb) s 4 double avg = sum / 2.0; (gdb) s 5 return avg; (gdb) p avg $1 = 5.5 (gdb) p sum $2 = 11

gdb walkthrough % gdb ./test-it (gdb) b average Breakpoint 1 at 0x1f8e: file test-it.c, line 3. (gdb) run Starting program: /Users/joe/test-it Reading symbols for shared libraries ++. done Breakpoint 1, average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 3 int sum = x + y; (gdb) bt #0 average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 function stack #1 0x00001fec in main () at test-it.c:12 (gdb) s 4 double avg = sum / 2.0; (gdb) s 5 return avg; (gdb) p avg $1 = 5.5 (gdb) p sum $2 = 11

gdb walkthrough % gdb ./test-it (gdb) b average Breakpoint 1 at 0x1f8e: file test-it.c, line 3. (gdb) run Starting program: /Users/joe/test-it Reading symbols for shared libraries ++. done Breakpoint 1, average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 3 int sum = x + y; (gdb) bt #0 average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 #1 0x00001fec in main () at test-it.c:12 (gdb) s 4 double avg = sum / 2.0; single step (gdb) s 5 return avg; (gdb) p avg $1 = 5.5 (gdb) p sum $2 = 11

gdb walkthrough % gdb ./test-it (gdb) b average Breakpoint 1 at 0x1f8e: file test-it.c, line 3. (gdb) run Starting program: /Users/joe/test-it Reading symbols for shared libraries ++. done Breakpoint 1, average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 3 int sum = x + y; (gdb) bt #0 average (x=5, y=6) at test-it.c:3 #1 0x00001fec in main () at test-it.c:12 (gdb) s 4 double avg = sum / 2.0; (gdb) s 5 return avg; (gdb) p avg $1 = 5.5 print variables (gdb) p sum $2 = 11

What’s on the ruby stack? (gdb) where #0 0x0002a55e in rb_call (klass=1386800, recv=5056455, mid=42, argc=1, argv=0xbfffe5c0, scope=0, self=1403220) at eval.c:6125 #1 0x000226ef in rb_eval (self=1403220, n=0x1461e4) at eval.c:3493 #2 0x00026d01 in rb_yield_0 (val=5056455, self=1403220, klass=0, flags=0, avalue=0) at eval.c:5083 #3 0x000270e8 in rb_yield (val=5056455) at eval.c:5168 #4 0x0005c30c in int_dotimes (num=1000000001) at numeric.c:2946 #5 0x00029be3 in call_cfunc (func=0x5c2a0 <int_dotimes>, recv=1000000001, len=0, argc=0, argv=0x0) at eval.c:5759 #6 0x00028fd4 in rb_call0 (klass=1387580, recv=1000000001, id=5785, oid=5785, argc=0, argv=0x0, body=0x152b24, flags=0) at eval.c:5911 #7 0x0002a7a7 in rb_call (klass=1387580, recv=1000000001, mid=5785, argc=0, argv=0x0, scope=0, self=1403220) at eval.c:6158 #8 0x000226ef in rb_eval (self=1403220, n=0x146284) at eval.c:3493 #9 0x000213e3 in rb_eval (self=1403220, n=0x1461a8) at eval.c:3223 #10 0x0001ceea in eval_node (self=1403220, node=0x1461a8) at eval.c:1437 #11 0x0001d60f in ruby_exec_internal () at eval.c:1642 #12 0x0001d660 in ruby_exec () at eval.c:1662 #13 0x0001d68e in ruby_run () at eval.c:1672 #14 0x000023dc in main (argc=2, argv=0xbffff7c4, envp=0xbffff7d0) at main.c:48

What’s on the ruby stack? (gdb) where #0 0x0002a55e in rb_call (klass=1386800, recv=5056455, mid=42, argc=1, argv=0xbfffe5c0, scope=0, self=1403220) at eval.c:6125 #1 0x000226ef in rb_eval (self=1403220, n=0x1461e4) at eval.c:3493 #2 0x00026d01 in rb_yield_0 (val=5056455, self=1403220, klass=0, flags=0, avalue=0) at eval.c:5083 #3 0x000270e8 in rb_yield (val=5056455) at eval.c:5168 #4 0x0005c30c in int_dotimes (num=1000000001) at numeric.c:2946 #5 0x00029be3 in call_cfunc (func=0x5c2a0 <int_dotimes>, recv=1000000001, len=0, argc=0, argv=0x0) at eval.c:5759 #6 0x00028fd4 in rb_call0 (klass=1387580, recv=1000000001, id=5785, oid=5785, argc=0, argv=0x0, body=0x152b24, flags=0) at eval.c:5911 #7 0x0002a7a7 in rb_call (klass=1387580, recv=1000000001, mid=5785, argc=0, argv=0x0, scope=0, self=1403220) at eval.c:6158 #8 0x000226ef in rb_eval (self=1403220, n=0x146284) at eval.c:3493 #9 0x000213e3 in rb_eval (self=1403220, n=0x1461a8) at eval.c:3223 #10 0x0001ceea in eval_node (self=1403220, node=0x1461a8) at eval.c:1437 #11 0x0001d60f in ruby_exec_internal () at eval.c:1642 #12 0x0001d660 in ruby_exec () at eval.c:1662 #13 0x0001d68e in ruby_run () at eval.c:1672 #14 0x000023dc in main (argc=2, argv=0xbffff7c4, envp=0xbffff7d0) at main.c:48 rb_eval recursively executes ruby code in 1.8

How big is the stack?

How big is the stack? #8 rb_eval at eval.c:3493 (gdb) p $ebp - $esp $1 = 968

How big is the stack? #8 rb_eval at eval.c:3493 (gdb) p $ebp - $esp base - stack ptr = frame size $1 = 968

How big is the stack? #8 rb_eval at eval.c:3493 (gdb) p $ebp - $esp base - stack ptr = frame size $1 = 968 each rb_eval stack frame is almost 1k!

How big is the stack? #8 rb_eval at eval.c:3493 (gdb) p $ebp - $esp base - stack ptr = frame size $1 = 968 each rb_eval stack frame is almost 1k! #0 rb_thread_save_context at eval.c:10597 (gdb) p (void*)rb_gc_stack_start - $esp $1 = 10572

How big is the stack? #8 rb_eval at eval.c:3493 (gdb) p $ebp - $esp base - stack ptr = frame size $1 = 968 each rb_eval stack frame is almost 1k! #0 rb_thread_save_context at eval.c:10597 (gdb) p (void*)rb_gc_stack_start - $esp $1 = 10572 10.5k stack will be memcpy()’d

How big is the stack? #8 rb_eval at eval.c:3493 (gdb) p $ebp - $esp base - stack ptr = frame size $1 = 968 each rb_eval stack frame is almost 1k! #0 rb_thread_save_context at eval.c:10597 (gdb) p (void*)rb_gc_stack_start - $esp $1 = 10572 10.5k stack will be memcpy()’d 50 method calls * 1k ≈ 50k stack

Recap: How do Ruby threads work?

Recap: How do Ruby threads work? Each thread has it’s own execution context: saved cpu registers (setjmp/longjmp) copy of vm globals (current frame, scope, block) stack (memcpy)

Recap: How do Ruby threads work? Each thread has it’s own execution context: saved cpu registers (setjmp/longjmp) copy of vm globals (current frame, scope, block) stack (memcpy) How does Ruby switch between threads? Thread executes until time is up (SIGVTALRM) rb_thread_save_context() saves state rb_thread_schedule() picks the next thread rb_thread_restore_context() restores new thread state

Recap: How do Ruby threads work? Each thread has it’s own execution context: saved cpu registers (setjmp/longjmp) copy of vm globals (current frame, scope, block) stack (memcpy) How does Ruby switch between threads? Thread executes until time is up (SIGVTALRM) rb_thread_save_context() saves state rb_thread_schedule() picks the next thread rb_thread_restore_context() restores new thread state memcpy

But I thought you said...

But I thought you said... The whole point of green threads is that they are fast and cheap (at the loss of SMP).

But I thought you said... The whole point of green threads is that they are fast and cheap (at the loss of SMP). That much copying is neither fast nor cheap.

But I thought you said... The whole point of green threads is that they are fast and cheap (at the loss of SMP). That much copying is neither fast nor cheap. So how can we fix it?

Stop copying stuff!

Stop copying stuff! A stack is just a region of memory.

Stop copying stuff! A stack is just a region of memory. Why not just point the CPU at a region on the heap?

Stop copying stuff! A stack is just a region of memory. Why not just point the CPU at a region on the heap? Then, each switch we just swap registers and do no copying at all!

Tradeoffs! Switching will be really, really fast, but... Can’t grow stacks anymore What happens if/when you fall off the edge? How big should they be? Heap or mmap area?

If they go on the heap.. use malloc/free (easier than mmap!) malloc overhead, though could try to grow stacks with realloc need to make sure realloc returns the same address! overflow and you’ll corrupt the heap won’t know until it’s too late!

If they are mmaped... mmap-family of functions can be hard to use could try to grow stacks with mremap put guard pages under stacks to catch overflow

We decided to... mmap the stacks use guard pages to protect from overflow do not grow stacks stacks are 1MB, but provide a tuning knob for advanced users

0-copy threading patch static void static void rb_thread_save_context(th) rb_thread_restore_context(th) rb_thread_t th; rb_thread_t th; { { VALUE *pos; ruby_frame = th->frame; int len; ruby_scope = th->scope; ruby_setjmp(th->context); /* ... */ len = ruby_stack_length(&pos); - MEMCPY(th->stk_pos, th->stk_pos = pos; - th->stk_ptr, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->stk_len = len; ruby_longjmp(th->context); - MEMCPY(th->stk_ptr, } - th->stk_pos, VALUE, th->stk_len); static VALUE th->frame = ruby_frame; rb_thread_start_0(fn, arg, th) th->scope = ruby_scope; VALUE (*fn)(); void *arg; /* ... */ rb_thread_t th; } { /* ... */ + th->stk_ptr = mmap(NULL, stack_size); + __asm__ ("movl %0, %%esp" + :: "r" (th->stk_ptr)); }

0-copy threading patch static void static void rb_thread_save_context(th) rb_thread_restore_context(th) rb_thread_t th; rb_thread_t th; { { VALUE *pos; ruby_frame = th->frame; int len; ruby_scope = th->scope; ruby_setjmp(th->context); /* ... */ len = ruby_stack_length(&pos); - MEMCPY(th->stk_pos, th->stk_pos = pos; - th->stk_ptr, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->stk_len = len; ruby_longjmp(th->context); - MEMCPY(th->stk_ptr, } - th->stk_pos, VALUE, th->stk_len); static VALUE th->frame = ruby_frame; rb_thread_start_0(fn, arg, th) th->scope = ruby_scope; VALUE (*fn)(); void *arg; /* ... */ rb_thread_t th; } { /* ... */ allocate stack + th->stk_ptr = mmap(NULL, stack_size); + __asm__ ("movl %0, %%esp" + :: "r" (th->stk_ptr)); }

0-copy threading patch static void static void rb_thread_save_context(th) rb_thread_restore_context(th) rb_thread_t th; rb_thread_t th; { { VALUE *pos; ruby_frame = th->frame; int len; ruby_scope = th->scope; ruby_setjmp(th->context); /* ... */ len = ruby_stack_length(&pos); - MEMCPY(th->stk_pos, th->stk_pos = pos; - th->stk_ptr, VALUE, th->stk_len); th->stk_len = len; ruby_longjmp(th->context); - MEMCPY(th->stk_ptr, } - th->stk_pos, VALUE, th->stk_len); static VALUE th->frame = ruby_frame; rb_thread_start_0(fn, arg, th) th->scope = ruby_scope; VALUE (*fn)(); void *arg; /* ... */ rb_thread_t th; } { /* ... */ allocate stack + th->stk_ptr = mmap(NULL, stack_size); + __asm__ ("movl %0, %%esp" update stack pointer + :: "r" (th->stk_ptr)); }

0-copy thread switches

0-copy thread switches Main Thread

0-copy thread switches Main Thread Thread Switch

0-copy thread switches Main Thread Thread Switch Thread Switch

Benchmark Computer Language Benchmark Game: http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/ Let’s use the thread-ring benchmark Let’s also grow the program stack a bit to illustrate the speed boost.

Benchmark Computer Language Benchmark Game: http://shootout.alioth.debian.org/ Let’s use the thread-ring benchmark Let’s also grow the program stack a bit to illustrate the speed boost. def grow_stack n=0, &blk unless n > 20 grow_stack n+1, &blk else yield end end

thread-ring number = 50_000_000 threads = [] for i in 1..503 threads << Thread.new(i) do |thr_num| grow_stack do while true Thread.stop if number > 0 number -= 1 else puts thr_num exit 0 end end end end end

thread-ring number = 50_000_000 threads = [] for i in 1..503 threads << Thread.new(i) do |thr_num| create 503 threads grow_stack do while true Thread.stop if number > 0 number -= 1 else puts thr_num exit 0 end end end end end

thread-ring number = 50_000_000 threads = [] for i in 1..503 threads << Thread.new(i) do |thr_num| create 503 threads grow_stack do increase the thread stacks while true Thread.stop if number > 0 number -= 1 else puts thr_num exit 0 end end end end end

thread-ring number = 50_000_000 threads = [] for i in 1..503 threads << Thread.new(i) do |thr_num| create 503 threads grow_stack do increase the thread stacks while true Thread.stop pause the thread if number > 0 number -= 1 else puts thr_num exit 0 end end end end end

thread-ring number = 50_000_000 threads = [] for i in 1..503 threads << Thread.new(i) do |thr_num| create 503 threads grow_stack do increase the thread stacks while true Thread.stop pause the thread if number > 0 number -= 1 when resumed, decrement number else puts thr_num exit 0 end end end end end

thread-ring number = 50_000_000 threads = [] for i in 1..503 threads << Thread.new(i) do |thr_num| create 503 threads grow_stack do increase the thread stacks while true Thread.stop pause the thread if number > 0 number -= 1 when resumed, decrement number else prev_thread = threads.last puts thr_num while true exit 0 for thread in threads end Thread.pass until prev_thread.stop? end thread.run end prev_thread = thread end end end end

thread-ring number = 50_000_000 threads = [] for i in 1..503 threads << Thread.new(i) do |thr_num| create 503 threads grow_stack do increase the thread stacks while true Thread.stop pause the thread if number > 0 number -= 1 when resumed, decrement number else prev_thread = threads.last puts thr_num while true exit 0 for thread in threads end Thread.pass until prev_thread.stop? end thread.run end prev_thread = thread end end end end schedule each thread until number == 0

Results

Results token = 50_000_000

Results token = 50_000_000 Ruby 1.8.6 7493.50s

Results token = 50_000_000 Ruby 1.8.6 7493.50s ~ 2.081 hours!

Results token = 50_000_000 Ruby 1.8.6 7493.50s ~ 2.081 hours! Ruby 1.8.6 w/ thread fix 799.52s

Results token = 50_000_000 Ruby 1.8.6 7493.50s ~ 2.081 hours! Ruby 1.8.6 w/ thread fix 799.52s ~13 mins!

rb_thread_schedule() sucks

rb_thread_schedule() sucks Thread switching might be fast now, but the scheduler is still pretty bad.

rb_thread_schedule() sucks Thread switching might be FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { /* */ fast now, but the } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); scheduler is still pretty FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { bad. /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th);

rb_thread_schedule() sucks Thread switching might be FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { /* */ fast now, but the } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); scheduler is still pretty FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { bad. /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); Loops over each thread 5+ FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { times /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th);

rb_thread_schedule() sucks Thread switching might be FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { /* */ fast now, but the } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); scheduler is still pretty FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { bad. /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); Loops over each thread 5+ FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { times /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); Complexity theory says FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { constants don’t matter, /* */ } but... END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th);

rb_thread_schedule() sucks Thread switching might be FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { /* */ fast now, but the } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); scheduler is still pretty FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { bad. /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); Loops over each thread 5+ FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { times /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); Complexity theory says FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { constants don’t matter, /* */ } but... END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th); FOREACH_THREAD_FROM(curr, th) { What now? /* */ } END_FOREACH_FROM(curr, th);

Rewrite the scheduler.

Rewrite the scheduler. Remove the scheduler!

Fibers!

Fibers! We’re backporting the Fibers API to MRI

Fibers! We’re backporting the Fibers API to MRI Behind the scenes:

Fibers! We’re backporting the Fibers API to MRI Behind the scenes: Create a thread

Fibers! We’re backporting the Fibers API to MRI Behind the scenes: Create a thread Don’t add to schedule list

Fibers! We’re backporting the Fibers API to MRI Behind the scenes: Create a thread Don’t add to schedule list “Schedule” manually with yield and resume

Where can I get all this awesome stuff?

GitHub http://github.com/ice799/matzruby heap_stacks branch heap_stacks_186 branch http://github.com/tmm1/ruby187 fibers branch

Ruby Enterprise Edition Based on Ruby 1.8.6 Thread timer fix is in the current release. 0-copy threading patch will be in the next release. Next release also merges MBARI for smaller rb_eval stack frames. http://www.rubyenterpriseedition.com/

Questions? @joedamato @tmm1 timetobleed.com github.com/tmm1 Thanks for listening!

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