Re: [PATCH 01/11] string_list: print_string_list to use trace_printf

[Stefan Beller <sbeller@google.com>]

On Thu, Sep 6, 2018 at 9:56 AM Jeff King <peff@peff.net> wrote:
>
> On Thu, Sep 06, 2018 at 09:52:28AM -0700, Junio C Hamano wrote:
>
> > Stefan Beller <sbeller@google.com> writes:
> >
> > > It is a debugging aid, so it should print to the debugging channel.
> >
> > ... and rename it with trace_ prefix.
> >
> > Use of trace_printf() is nice, as we can control its behavior at
> > runtime ;-)
>
> Yes, though...
>
> > > -void print_string_list(const struct string_list *p, const char *text)
> > > +void trace_print_string_list(const struct string_list *p, const char *text)
> > >  {
> > >     int i;
> > >     if ( text )
> > > -           printf("%s\n", text);
> > > +           trace_printf("%s\n", text);
> > >     for (i = 0; i < p->nr; i++)
> > > -           printf("%s:%p\n", p->items[i].string, p->items[i].util);
> > > +           trace_printf("%s:%p\n", p->items[i].string, p->items[i].util);
> > >  }
>
> It seems funny that we'd iterate through the list checking over and over
> whether tracing is enabled.
>
> Should this do:
>
>   if (!trace_want(&trace_default_key))
>         return;
>
> at the top? (Or possibly even take a trace key from the caller, so that
> it can use whatever context makes sense for this particular list?)

I added this check as well as rewording the commit message
to recite Junios understanding of the patch as well.

However I would want to not derail this patch any further.
This function was used as an aid by me some time ago, so I
am willing to share the modifications needed for efficient
printf debugging here, but I do not want to be dragged into
a rabbit hole.

For example taking the trace key is much overkill IMHO
for a pure debugging aid (and so is the shortcutting return
that you proposed, but I added that already for the resend),
so if anyone needs this function outside of printf-debugging,
I would recommend patches on top.

Thanks,
Stefan