Linux kernel developer Linus Torvalds has made a significant security tweak to improve the operating system’s multithreaded performance. The patch, which aims to counter Meltdown and Spectre attacks, has resulted in a 2.6% improvement in benchmark scores.
The patch avoids using the barrier_nospec() API, which prevents speculative execution of machine code on 64-bit systems. This is done by using pointer masking instead, returning an address with all ones for invalid addresses.
While this measure makes servers safer but slower, it’s a necessary evil for running web servers and other applications that require maximum security. Torvalds has expressed his disapproval of such performance-killing measures in the past.
The Linux Foundation reported that Torvalds commands over $1 million annually due to his exceptional technical knowledge, particularly in x86 architecture. His expertise is highly sought after by major chip vendors, who hire him to provide low-level expert knowledge for their projects.
The patch is a result of Torvalds revising a previously submitted code change by Red Hat developer Josh Poimboeuf, with the goal of making it faster while maintaining security. The kernel test robot has reported this 2.6% improvement in the per_thread_ops benchmark, showcasing Torvalds’s continued impact on Linux performance and security.
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/06/torvalds_patch_linux_performance