[lworld] Integrated: 8375719: [lworld] Move reads of flat fields entirely to the runtime

[Joel Sikström]

On Tue, 20 Jan 2026 17:56:00 GMT, Joel Sikström <jsikstro at openjdk.org> wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> Today much of the reading of flattened values in the interpreter is implemented both in the platform-specific templateTable_XX.cpp files, and also in the runtime via InterpreterRuntime::read_flat_field. The reason we have both is becuase the interpreterlet implements a fast-path for null-free types, which attempts to allocate the buffered object inside the thread's TLAB, before moving on to copy the src payload to the buffered objected. The copying is done in the VM via a call_VM_leaf call, which notably does not safepoint-poll (nor allow anything that might GC for example).
> 
> The slow-path in the interpreterlet calls into the VM via a call_VM, which notably safepoint-point polls upon exit. The slow-path is taken when 1) the src payload is nullable or 2) the fast-path TLAB allocation fails.
> 
> I propose we redesign the dance around when and how to enter the VM by having the logic of reading a flat field exclusively inside the runtime and thus always entering the VM. This approach allows us to have one canonical way to read flat fields, without having effectively duplicate code in interpreterlets (for all supported platforms) and inside the runtime. A benefit from this is that it becomes easier for porters to port the Valhalla changes to their platform(s) and later on maintain that port, which is a plus.
> 
> Since all objects are NULLABLE in JEP 401 (disregarding F&F interface), all reads of flat fields are already entering the VM via the "slow-path". This means that this change only has a practical effect on null-free/null-restricted fields. I think we should consider if having a fast-path is worth it or not when that time comes, although I anticipate that it doesn't make much difference since the copy is always done in the VM anyway.
> 
> As a small optimization, I've added a check for nullable and marked-as-null before entering the VM. 
> 
> Testing:
> * hotspot_valhalla, jdk_valhalla and Oracle's tier1-4 on linux-x64-debug and linux-aarch64-debug

This pull request has now been integrated.

Changeset: b2f45e0f
Author:    Joel Sikström <jsikstro at openjdk.org>
Committer: Paul Hübner <phubner at openjdk.org>
URL:       https://git.openjdk.org/valhalla/commit/b2f45e0f857fb32bdc36e7b93346ebc967b74736
Stats:     140 lines in 11 files changed: 11 ins; 113 del; 16 mod

8375719: [lworld] Move reads of flat fields entirely to the runtime

Reviewed-by: coleenp, phubner, fparain

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PR: https://git.openjdk.org/valhalla/pull/1936