[CS-FSLUG] Optimizing system libs

[Leon Brooks]

On Mon, 21 Jun 2004 11:50, Timothy R.Butler wrote:
> Have you ever done that on GNU/Linux?

Hyah! Stallmanism detected. Should have seen how annoyed he got when I 
suggested Linux+GNU instead. (-:

> It'd be interesting to know of the processor optimizations are
> better/worse on either system...

Mandrake figured ouyt fairly early on that optimising kernel and system 
libraries, plus a few multimedia apps was worthwhile. The gain from 
per-processor optimising most of the MM stuff was insignificant (a few 
percent at most) so they just ignore that and provide you with a choice 
of kernels, and a couple of more-optimised system libraries. They also 
found that some per-processor optimisation didn't help that processor 
very much but did hinder other processors lots and have some savagely 
bad corner cases, so they generally only provide one or two optimised 
versions of stuff, rather than one for every processor.

Mandrake 10.0 shipped with a -tmb kernel which is optimised for 
multimedia. This does make some MM go noticeably quicker but it's not a 
panacea so they supply it as an option on their standard kernel range. 
If you want anything more technical, the source is there and so are the 
build tools, help yourself.

Cheers; Leon

--
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
    -- 1 Thessalonians 5:21, KJV