RFR: 8221477: Inject os/cpu-specific constants into Unsafe from JVM

[Peter Levart]

On 4/5/19 10:48 AM, Andrew Dinn wrote:
> Hi Peter,
>
> Regarding the static initializer ... there is an explanatory implNote
> explaining the rationale for the static block in the class javadoc at
> the top of the file. I agree this could be improved by explaining that
> the block is executed and then its settings are overridden:
>
>   * @implNote
>   *
>   * The JVM injects hardware-specific values into all the static fields
>   * of this class during JVM initialization. The static initialization
>   * block is executed when the class is initialized then JVM injection
>   * updates the fields with the correct constants. The static block
>   * is required to prevent the fields from being considered constant
>   * variables, so the field values will be not be compiled directly into
>   * any class that uses them.
>
> Regarding the field Javadoc ... I understand that an OpenJDK dev might
> want a correct and complete model for what exactly happens during init
> however that is rather a moot point as regards semantics of the value in
> the Java code. The nett effect is as the javadoc states -- the value is
> injected by the JVM and, per the text above, that value identifies the
> relevant hardware/os config parameter. So, I'll stop at expanding the
> class-level comment.
>
>> Just for the peace of mind of casual readers or perhaps someone that
>> might later add a field to this class and try to initialize it in the
>> static initializer, although I think this class is reserved for injected
>> fields only...
> Understood. I think the class-level comment already makes that latter
> detail explicit and the revised version gives enough warning to devs.
>
> I hope the above changes is acceptable.

It is precisely what I was thinking about. It's understood that the 
@implNote on fields is enough for the users of the UnsafeConstants class 
since the injection happens magically as "part of class initialization" 
for them. The only place where the timing of injection is observable 
from Java code is in the class initializer itself where the fields are 
set to default values and injection hasn't happened yet...

Regards, Peter

> regards,
>
>
> Andrew Dinn
> -----------
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> Red Hat UK Ltd
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