RFR: 8363996: Obsolete UseCompressedClassPointers [v5]

[David Holmes]

On Mon, 9 Feb 2026 21:33:37 GMT, Thomas Stuefe <stuefe at openjdk.org> wrote:

>> _This patch is not intended for JDK 26_. 
>> 
>> I'm posting it now to collect feedback and, barring any objections, plan to push it once JDK 27 opens.
>> 
>> This change removes the uncompressed Klass pointer mode and, with compressed Klass pointers remaining as the only option, the `UseCompressedClassPointers` switch.
>> 
>> For motivation, please take a look at CSR associated with the deprecation (which we did for JDK 25) and the preparatory discussion we had at the start of the year around this topic [2].
>> 
>> This patch is quite invasive and touches many parts of the JVM, since its goal is to remove most traces of the uncompressed Klass path and to take advantage of opportunities for simplification. In some cases, I did not take opportunities for further simplification to keep the patch somewhat legible; it will be onerous enough to review.
>> 
>> ### Implementation Notes
>> 
>> With uncompressed Klass pointers removed, we have three modes of operation left (including 32-bit):
>>   a) 64-bit, COH off - this is the old `+UseCompressedClassPointers` mode. This is now the standard mode until we run with COH by default.
>>   b) 64-bit, COH on
>>   c) 32-bit - Here, we run with a "fake" narrow Klass pointer mode. We run with hardcoded narrowKlass base == NULL and shift = 0, so nKlass == Klass*. The difference to (a, b) is that we don't use a class space. This was implemented with JDK-8363998 [3] - for more details, please see that issue and its PR.
>> 
>> I ensured *arm32* builds and I performed some rudimentary checks (selected metaspace/gc tests, and a simple Spring PetClinic run). Vendors with an interest in arm32 will have to step up and do their own, more thorough unit testing. Also, I did not see anyone doing follow-up work after JDK-8363998 [3] - so some issues may still lurk from that patch as well (but maybe JDK-8363998 was just not breaking anything).
>> 
>> I did not check *zero 32-bit*, the only other platform supporting 32-bit. Anyone with an interest in 32-bit zero should chip in.
>>   
>> Pre-existing errors: While working on this patch, I stumbled over a few occurrences of old but benign bugs. Mostly old code assuming CompressedClassPointers and CompressedOops were still tied together (example: Arguments::set_heap_size()). These bugs are implicitly fixed with this patch.
>> 
>> ### Testing
>> 
>> - tier 1 2 3 locally on Linux x64
>> - SAP ran their whole set of tests for all the platforms they support.
>> 
>> 
>> [1] https://bugs.openjdk.org/browse/JDK-8350754
>> [2...
>
> Thomas Stuefe has updated the pull request with a new target base due to a merge or a rebase. The pull request now contains 62 commits:
> 
>  - Replace Klass::_metadata union with narrowKlass member
>  - Ivan: fix various instances of ObjLayout::undefined should assert
>  - Ivan: Update src/hotspot/share/oops/instanceKlass.cpp
>    
>    Co-authored-by: Ivan Walulya <ivan.walulya at oracle.com>
>  - David: reduce diff in ObjectCountEventVerifier.java
>  - David: minimize change in GetObjectSizeIntrinsicsTest.java
>  - David: minimize diffs in TestZGCWithCDS.java
>  - David: minimize diffs for runtime/ErrorHandling/TestVMConfigInHsErrFile.java
>  - David: revert type change in arguments.cpp
>  - David: fix comment in metaspace
>  - Merge branch 'master' into JDK-8363996-Obsolete-UseCompressedClassPointers
>  - ... and 52 more: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/compare/ffb6279c...642604ac

A couple of minor follow up comments below, but otherwise this all seems okay. Thanks

src/hotspot/cpu/x86/macroAssembler_x86.hpp line 354:

> 352:   void store_klass(Register dst, Register src, Register tmp);
> 353: 
> 354:   // Compares the narrow Klass pointer of an object to a given narrow Klass (which might be narrow

Suggestion:

  // Compares the narrow Klass pointer of an object to a given narrow Klass.

??

test/jdk/jdk/jfr/event/gc/objectcount/ObjectCountEventVerifier.java line 73:

> 71:         boolean runsOn32Bit = System.getProperty("sun.arch.data.model").equals("32");
> 72:         int bytesPerWord = runsOn32Bit ? 4 : 8;
> 73:         int objectHeaderSize = runsOn32Bit ? 12 : 16;

This seems a separate bug fix. ??

-------------

PR Review: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/28366#pullrequestreview-3776771990
PR Review Comment: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/28366#discussion_r2785847854
PR Review Comment: https://git.openjdk.org/jdk/pull/28366#discussion_r2785905985