RFR: JDK-8072842 Add support for building native JTReg tests

[David Holmes]

Hi Magnus,

On 11/02/2015 12:23 AM, Magnus Ihse Bursie wrote:
> Here is an addition to the build system, that will compile native
> libraries and executables and make them available for JTReg tests
> written in Java.

Sorry I'm missing the basics here: when does this compilation take 
place? As part of a normal build? Where will the build artifacts go?

Thanks,
David H.

> This patch is the result of the work (in serial, mostly) of Staffan
> Larsen, David Simms and me. (And possible more that I don't know about.)
>
> In it current form, the patch only provides the framework on which to
> attach real tests. To prove the concept, some initial dummy tests are
> present. These are supposed to be removed as soon as real tests starts
> to propagate into the jdk and hotspot jtreg test suites.
>
> The behavior is based on the following design: For directories with
> native jtreg compilation enabled, the build system searches for native
> files prefixed with either "lib" or "exe", and compiles a free-standing
> library or an executable, respectively, for each such file. Since all
> compiled files are placed in a single directory (this is currently a
> requirement from the jtreg native support), there is the additional
> requirement that all files have unique names.
>
> My personal opinion is that a better long-term approach is to compile
> all tests into a single library, if possible. (I realize some tests need
> to be separate to test library loading, etc.) For that to work, however,
> JTReg needs to be changed. The build framework in the patch is designed
> in such a way that it will be easy to add compilation to a common
> library in the future, if that restriction is lifted from JTReg.
>
> This patch also lays the foundation for building additional tests, not
> only native jtreg tests, by the build system in the future. For
> instance, it codifies the suggested correspondence between make targets,
> intermediate test output and test image final build results. With the
> on-going test co-location project, we expect a stream of tests to be
> added to the build system in the future, and we hope this project can
> serve as an example of a suitable way of integration.
>
> The patch modifies hotspot code, but it's mostly due to the addition of
> the new dummy tests. My preference would be to integrate this patch via
> jdk9-dev, since it modifies the build system most of all, but I'm open
> for discussion.
>
> Bug: https://bugs.openjdk.java.net/browse/JDK-8072842
> WebRev:
> http://cr.openjdk.java.net/~ihse/JDK-8072842-build-native-jtreg-tests/webrev.01
>
>
> /Magnus