Brain Fuck Scheduler
Encyclopedia
The Brain Fuck Scheduler (or BFS) is a task scheduler
designed for the Linux kernel
in August of 2009 as an alternative to the Completely Fair Scheduler
and the O(1) scheduler
. BFS was created by veteran kernel programmer Con Kolivas
.
The objective of BFS, compared to other schedulers, was to provide a scheduler with a simpler algorithm, that did not require adjustment of heuristics or tuning parameters to tailor performance to a specific type of computation workload. The BFS author asserted that these tunable parameters were difficult for the average user to understand, especially in terms of interactions of multiple parameters with each other, and claimed that the use of such tuning parameters could often result in improved performance in a specific targeted type of computation, at the cost of worse performance in the general case. BFS has been reported to improve responsiveness on light-NUMA (non-uniform memory access
) Linux mobile devices and desktop computers with fewer than 16 cores.
Shortly following its introduction, the new scheduler made headlines within the Linux community, appearing on Slashdot
, with reviews in Linux Magazine
and Linux Pro Magazine
. Although there have been varied reviews of improved performance and responsiveness, it appears unlikely that BFS will be integrated into the mainline kernel.
's Android development repository. It was not included in the Froyo release after blind testing did not show an improved user experience.
2010. and Sabayon Linux 7.
Scheduling (computing)
In computer science, a scheduling is the method by which threads, processes or data flows are given access to system resources . This is usually done to load balance a system effectively or achieve a target quality of service...
designed for the Linux kernel
Linux kernel
The Linux kernel is an operating system kernel used by the Linux family of Unix-like operating systems. It is one of the most prominent examples of free and open source software....
in August of 2009 as an alternative to the Completely Fair Scheduler
Completely Fair Scheduler
The Completely Fair Scheduler is the name of a task scheduler which was merged into the 2.6.23 release of the Linux kernel. It handles CPU resource allocation for executing processes, and aims to maximize overall CPU utilization while also maximizing interactive performance.Con Kolivas's work with...
and the O(1) scheduler
O(1) scheduler
An O scheduler is a kernel scheduling design that can schedule processes within a constant amount of time, regardless of how many processes are running on the operating system. One of the major goals of operating system designers is to minimize overhead and jitter of OS services, so that...
. BFS was created by veteran kernel programmer Con Kolivas
Con Kolivas
Con Kolivas is an Australian anaesthetist who is known on the Internet for his programming work on the Linux kernel in his spare time. He has written patches for the kernel to improve its desktop performance, particularly reducing I/O impact...
.
The objective of BFS, compared to other schedulers, was to provide a scheduler with a simpler algorithm, that did not require adjustment of heuristics or tuning parameters to tailor performance to a specific type of computation workload. The BFS author asserted that these tunable parameters were difficult for the average user to understand, especially in terms of interactions of multiple parameters with each other, and claimed that the use of such tuning parameters could often result in improved performance in a specific targeted type of computation, at the cost of worse performance in the general case. BFS has been reported to improve responsiveness on light-NUMA (non-uniform memory access
Non-Uniform Memory Access
Non-Uniform Memory Access is a computer memory design used in Multiprocessing, where the memory access time depends on the memory location relative to a processor...
) Linux mobile devices and desktop computers with fewer than 16 cores.
Shortly following its introduction, the new scheduler made headlines within the Linux community, appearing on Slashdot
Slashdot
Slashdot is a technology-related news website owned by Geeknet, Inc. The site, which bills itself as "News for Nerds. Stuff that Matters", features user-submitted and ‑evaluated current affairs news stories about science- and technology-related topics. Each story has a comments section...
, with reviews in Linux Magazine
Linux Magazine (USA)
Linux Magazine was a magazine about Linux written in English and published in the United States.In June 2008, Linux New Media AG purchased assets related to Linux Magazine...
and Linux Pro Magazine
Linux Magazine
Linux Magazine is a European professional journal. It addresses itself to readers who work professionally with operating systems based around the Linux kernel. Linux Magazine is published by Linux New Media AG and was born after the great success of Linux-Magazin...
. Although there have been varied reviews of improved performance and responsiveness, it appears unlikely that BFS will be integrated into the mainline kernel.
Android
BFS has been added to an experimental branch of GoogleGoogle
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
's Android development repository. It was not included in the Froyo release after blind testing did not show an improved user experience.
Desktop Linux distributions
BFS is the default scheduler for Zenwalk 6.4,, PCLinuxOSPCLinuxOS
PCLinuxOS, often shortened to PCLOS, is a GNU/Linux distribution, with KDE Plasma Desktop as its default user interface. It is a primarily free software operating system for personal computers aimed at ease of use...
2010. and Sabayon Linux 7.