Re: [PATCH] (1/7) entropy, take 2 - log2

Oliver Xymoron (oxymoron@waste.org)
Sat, 24 Aug 2002 10:05:36 -0500


On Sat, Aug 24, 2002 at 11:22:10AM +0200, Abramo Bagnara wrote:
> Oliver Xymoron wrote:
> >
> >> +static inline __u32 int_log2_16bits(__u32 word)
> > {
> > /* Smear msbit right to make an n-bit mask */
> > word |= word >> 8;
> > word |= word >> 4;
> > word |= word >> 2;
> > word |= word >> 1;
...
> > + return hweight16(word)-1;
> > }
> > -#endif
>
> I suggest you to use a more efficient version like that below:
>
> static inline int ld2_16(__u16 v)
> {
> unsigned r = 0;
>
> if (v >= 0x100) {
> v >>= 8;
> r += 8;
> }
> if (v >= 0x10) {
> v >>= 4;
> r += 4;
> }
> if (v >= 4) {
> v >>= 2;
> r += 2;
> }
> if (v >= 2)
> r++;
> return r;

Four branches are almost certainly less efficient. In any case, the
intent above is not to optimize the code, but to replace it with a
call to identical code that exists in bitops so that optimizations can
be made globally, and arch-specific if necessary.

-- 
 "Love the dolphins," she advised him. "Write by W.A.S.T.E.." 
-
To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in
the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org
More majordomo info at  http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html
Please read the FAQ at  http://www.tux.org/lkml/