Ok, here's the catch. bootclasspath.properties is the SortedSet<JARfile>, which enumerates the JARs available for bootclassloader. The set of such the JARs is really stable because modular decomposition of classlib is stable. That's why nobody bothers with automatic generation of it: it only should be updated when new JAR file arrives. Modulelibrarymapping.properties is different on this point, it's the Map<PackageName,JARfile>, which should be updated each time the new *package* is introduced. I'm not talking about java.* packages (they're standardized), rather about org.apache.harmony.*.
Automatic generation of this property file gives two advantages: 1. Error-prone. Prevent yourself from hand-messing with mapping and getting spurious ClassNotFoundException. BTW, what's the behaviour in case the mapping is wrong? 2. "Researchful". There're lot of guys around who enjoys the modularity of Harmony classlib and eventually they might want to split the packages even deeper, into smaller pieces. Then automatic generation would enable them to quickly roll-in and experiment with different package layouts and their impact on performance. They could use ordinary bootclasspath.properties, but your feature wouldn't be used by them then ;) That's merely a housekeeping procedure. I believe that anything which could be done more than once, eventually would be done more than once. Hence it should be automated. You say that the file was generated from manifests of JARs, so is it hard to just tie the same tool into DRLVM build process? As for DRLVM-specific, my opinion that this is because the patch: a. breaks the compatibility of classlib (you change bootclasspath.properties, right?) with other VMs. b. treated in DRLVM classloader only. Of course eventually this feature might be used by others, but IMO we should be careful about other guys who use the same classlib. I'd rather wait for some incubation on DRLVM side first. Thanks, Aleksey. On Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 6:18 PM, Wenlong Li <[email protected]> wrote: > I see. In fact, my file doesn't need track change at the class > granularity. Instead, it only needs know package info provided in the > manifest file. When class is added to a library, do we need change > the manifest as well? > > btw, I guess there is a mis-understanding: my modulelibrarymapping > file only records package info provided by manfiest in each module. It > doesn't relate to each class. > > thx, > Wenlong > > On Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 10:55 PM, Pavel Pervov <[email protected]> wrote: >> Classes are added to class library from time to time. I'm not sure how >> it can be possible to track these changes manually. >> >> WBR, >> Pavel. >> >> >> On Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 5:09 PM, Wenlong Li <[email protected]> wrote: >>> Sorry, one more question: bootclasspath.properties is classlib >>> specific file, why we could not make a vm specific file manually? Just >>> curious to know the possible reason. :) >>> >>> thx, >>> Wenlong >>> >>> On Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 10:00 PM, Pavel Pervov <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> If this would be VM-side automatically produced configuration file... >>>> >>>> WBR, >>>> Pavel. >>>> >>>> On Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 4:58 PM, Wenlong Li <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>> btw, because adding new module is rare case, manually modifying the >>>>> bootclasspath.properties is not an issue? >>>>> >>>>> If so, can I conclude adding another property file with same update >>>>> frequency as bootclasspath would be fine as well? >>>>> >>>>> Pls kindly correct me if my understanding is wrong. >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 9:05 PM, Pavel Pervov <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> Wenlong, >>>>>> >>>>>> Note, that bootclasspath.properties is only changed on adding new >>>>>> module. This is pretty rare occasion, I believe. >>>>>> >>>>>> WBR, >>>>>> Pavel. >>>>>> >>>>>> On Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 3:48 PM, Wenlong Li <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>> Thx for your advice. Alexey. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Here I have one question: do you know how the bootclasspath.properties >>>>>>> is maintained, manually or automatically? >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Another comment is I would like to treat the patch as DRLVM specific >>>>>>> optimization, e.g., it targets for improving VM creation time. So that >>>>>>> is possible to move all updates to DRLVM part to eliminate potential >>>>>>> modularity and compatibility problem. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> thx, >>>>>>> Wenlong >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 5:32 PM, Aleksey Shipilev >>>>>>> <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>> Hi, Wenlong. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 11:49 AM, Wenlong Li <[email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>> btw, Alexey, Let's go back to discuss whether there is a need to >>>>>>>>> include this feature in Harmony, given 17% performance gain in Linux >>>>>>>>> when using your methodology. For windows test, I will double check the >>>>>>>>> backgroud process as you pointed out. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> My opinion was already expressed after I had finished the tests from >>>>>>>> my side: the boost can be achieved in specific conditions, so whether >>>>>>>> it's worth including into Harmony really depends on how much mess the >>>>>>>> patch would introduce besides the "performance boost". From what I >>>>>>>> see, the patch obliges the maintainer to maintain the correct mapping >>>>>>>> between jars and Java packages. This new feature is also spread >>>>>>>> between Classlib and VM, but it seems like DRLVM specific. In this >>>>>>>> case I would rather stay without the patch. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Personally (if I'll be committer) I would accept the patch with two >>>>>>>> serious modifications: >>>>>>>> 1. Stay within DRLVM, do not introduce this feature into Classlib, >>>>>>>> get the thing tested and evolved on DRLVM side. Otherwise it might >>>>>>>> break the compatibility with other VMs. >>>>>>>> 2. Make the mapping generated automatically (during build process?) >>>>>>>> to free the burden for maintainers. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>>>> Aleksey. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >> >
