Fast Kernel Headers v2 Posted - Speeds Up Clang-Built Linux Kernel Build By ~88%

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Fast Kernel Headers v2 Posted - Speeds Up Clang-Built Linux Kernel Build By ~88%

What may end up being one of the greatest Linux kernel features of 2022 is the recently published "Fast Kernel Headers" effort for cleaning up the kernel headers and dramatically speeding up Linux kernel builds both for absolute/clean and incremental builds. Fast Kernel Headers can cut the Linux kernel build time in half or greater and out this weekend are the v2 patches...

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Fast-Kernel-Headers-v2

[sinepgib]

It would be very useful if this work also came with guidelines for new developments so we don't end up countering this gains in the future. There are tons of docs about how is the preferred way to contribute to the kernel, we should add one for this.

[V1tol]

As a person who started to build kernel himself not so long time ago, I would just love this to be merged. Although I understand how many code review hours it may take.

[skeevy420]

Is a Ferrari really the most appropriate image to represent faster build times? I'm just saying that it can take a year or two from order to delivery when you buy a Ferrari.

A Ford Model T, OTOH, would have been very appropriate.

[Michael]

Is a Ferrari really the most appropriate image to represent faster build times? I'm just saying that it can take a year or two from order to delivery when you buy a Ferrari.

A Ford Model T, OTOH, would have been very appropriate.

Unfortunately I don't have any Model T or any other car pictures I've taken that would be relevant... when thinking of what to add for an image around speed, Ferrari came to mind as had some pictures during an AMD party at Ferrari HQ a few years ago.

[oibaf]

Is a Ferrari really the most appropriate image to represent faster build times? I'm just saying that it can take a year or two from order to delivery when you buy a Ferrari.

A Ford Model T, OTOH, would have been very appropriate.

Well, it is very appropriate given this from the previous article:

Longtime Linux kernel developer Ingo Molnar posted a massive set of patches today: 2,297 patches that have been in the works since late 2020 and completely rework the Linux kernel's header file hierarchy.

After 1-2 years in waiting... you'll go very fast!

[caligula]

Holy crap. Now C isn't the fastest language to compile. Imagine if Linux was written in Pascal. Would save millions in server hardware.

[milkylainen]

I wonder if these header changes are going to break every external kernel module build there is?
Probably a whole lot of other stuff that are halfway between userspace and whatnot.

Does anyone know how these changes interact with existing code?
Ie, how much breakage can one expect?

[onlyLinuxLuvUBack]

can we get 1 bargraph ?

[sdack]

Well, it does make up for including Rust code into the kernel.