git/list[1] front-page[2] threads[3] people[4] search[5] about
 

[PATCH v2 14/21] read_packed_refs(): ensure that references are ordered when read

From
Michael Haggerty <mhagger@alum.mit.edu>
Date
Sep 19, 2017, 06:22 UTC
Message-ID
<5bb362d9cb74c7386cd072e3ecd49b22cea1d8d2.1505799700.git.mhagger@alum.mit.edu>
In-Reply-To
<cover.1505799700.git.mhagger@alum.mit.edu>

It doesn't actually matter now, because the references are only iterated over to fill the associated `ref_cache`, which itself puts them in the correct order. But we want to get rid of the `ref_cache`, so we want to be able to iterate directly over the `packed-refs` buffer, and then the iteration will need to be ordered correctly.

In fact, we already write the `packed-refs` file sorted, but it is possible that other Git clients don't get it right. So let's not assume that a `packed-refs` file is sorted unless it is explicitly declared to be so via a `sorted` trait in its header line.

If it is *not* declared to be sorted, then scan quickly through the file to check. If it is found to be out of order, then sort the records into a new memory-only copy. This checking and sorting is done quickly, without parsing the full file contents. However, it needs a little bit of care to avoid reading past the end of the buffer even if the `packed-refs` file is corrupt.

Since *we* always write the file correctly sorted, include that trait when we write or rewrite a `packed-refs` file. This means that the scan described in the previous paragraph should only have to be done for `packed-refs` files that were written by older versions of the Git command-line client, or by other clients that haven't yet learned to write the `sorted` trait.

If `packed-refs` was already sorted, then (if the system allows it) we can use the mmapped file contents directly. But if the system doesn't allow a file that is currently mmapped to be replaced using `rename()`, then it would be bad for us to keep the file mmapped for any longer than necessary. So, on such systems, always make a copy of the file contents, either as part of the sorting process, or afterwards.

Signed-off-by: Michael Haggerty <mhagger@alum.mit.edu>
---
 refs/packed-backend.c | 223 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++---
 1 file changed, 212 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-)
diff --git a/refs/packed-backend.c b/refs/packed-backend.c
index 4981516f1e..f336690f16 100644
--- a/refs/packed-backend.c
+++ b/refs/packed-backend.c
@@ -51,11 +51,12 @@ struct packed_ref_cache {
 	int mmapped;
 
 	/*
-	 * The contents of the `packed-refs` file. If the file is
-	 * mmapped, this points at the mmapped contents of the file.
-	 * If not, this points at heap-allocated memory containing the
-	 * contents. If there were no contents (e.g., because the file
-	 * didn't exist), `buf` and `eof` are both NULL.
+	 * The contents of the `packed-refs` file. If the file was
+	 * already sorted, this points at the mmapped contents of the
+	 * file. If not, this points at heap-allocated memory
+	 * containing the contents, sorted. If there were no contents
+	 * (e.g., because the file didn't exist), `buf` and `eof` are
+	 * both NULL.
 	 */
 	char *buf, *eof;
 
@@ -358,7 +359,7 @@ struct ref_iterator *mmapped_ref_iterator_begin(
 	if (!packed_refs->buf)
 		return empty_ref_iterator_begin();
 
-	base_ref_iterator_init(ref_iterator, &mmapped_ref_iterator_vtable, 0);
+	base_ref_iterator_init(ref_iterator, &mmapped_ref_iterator_vtable, 1);
 
 	iter->packed_refs = packed_refs;
 	acquire_packed_ref_cache(iter->packed_refs);
@@ -371,6 +372,170 @@ struct ref_iterator *mmapped_ref_iterator_begin(
 	return ref_iterator;
 }
 
+struct packed_ref_entry {
+	const char *start;
+	size_t len;
+};
+
+static int cmp_packed_ref_entries(const void *v1, const void *v2)
+{
+	const struct packed_ref_entry *e1 = v1, *e2 = v2;
+	const char *r1 = e1->start + GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ + 1;
+	const char *r2 = e2->start + GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ + 1;
+
+	while (1) {
+		if (*r1 == '\n')
+			return *r2 == '\n' ? 0 : -1;
+		if (*r1 != *r2) {
+			if (*r2 == '\n')
+				return 1;
+			else
+				return (unsigned char)*r1 < (unsigned char)*r2 ? -1 : +1;
+		}
+		r1++;
+		r2++;
+	}
+}
+
+/*
+ * `packed_refs->buf` is not known to be sorted. Check whether it is,
+ * and if not, sort it into new memory and munmap/free the old
+ * storage.
+ */
+static void sort_packed_refs(struct packed_ref_cache *packed_refs)
+{
+	struct packed_ref_entry *entries = NULL;
+	size_t alloc = 0, nr = 0;
+	int sorted = 1;
+	const char *pos, *eof, *eol;
+	size_t len, i;
+	char *new_buffer, *dst;
+
+	pos = packed_refs->buf + packed_refs->header_len;
+	eof = packed_refs->eof;
+	len = eof - pos;
+
+	if (!len)
+		return;
+
+	/*
+	 * Initialize entries based on a crude estimate of the number
+	 * of references in the file (we'll grow it below if needed):
+	 */
+	ALLOC_GROW(entries, len / 80 + 20, alloc);
+
+	while (pos < eof) {
+		eol = memchr(pos, '\n', eof - pos);
+		if (!eol)
+			/* The safety check should prevent this. */
+			BUG("unterminated line found in packed-refs");
+		if (eol - pos < GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ + 2)
+			die_invalid_line(packed_refs->refs->path,
+					 pos, eof - pos);
+		eol++;
+		if (eol < eof && *eol == '^') {
+			/*
+			 * Keep any peeled line together with its
+			 * reference:
+			 */
+			const char *peeled_start = eol;
+
+			eol = memchr(peeled_start, '\n', eof - peeled_start);
+			if (!eol)
+				/* The safety check should prevent this. */
+				BUG("unterminated peeled line found in packed-refs");
+			eol++;
+		}
+
+		ALLOC_GROW(entries, nr + 1, alloc);
+		entries[nr].start = pos;
+		entries[nr].len = eol - pos;
+		nr++;
+
+		if (sorted &&
+		    nr > 1 &&
+		    cmp_packed_ref_entries(&entries[nr - 2],
+					   &entries[nr - 1]) >= 0)
+			sorted = 0;
+
+		pos = eol;
+	}
+
+	if (sorted)
+		goto cleanup;
+
+	/* We need to sort the memory. First we sort the entries array: */
+	QSORT(entries, nr, cmp_packed_ref_entries);
+
+	/*
+	 * Allocate a new chunk of memory, and copy the old memory to
+	 * the new in the order indicated by `entries` (not bothering
+	 * with the header line):
+	 */
+	new_buffer = xmalloc(len);
+	for (dst = new_buffer, i = 0; i < nr; i++) {
+		memcpy(dst, entries[i].start, entries[i].len);
+		dst += entries[i].len;
+	}
+
+	/*
+	 * Now munmap the old buffer and use the sorted buffer in its
+	 * place:
+	 */
+	release_packed_ref_buffer(packed_refs);
+	packed_refs->buf = new_buffer;
+	packed_refs->eof = new_buffer + len;
+	packed_refs->header_len = 0;
+
+cleanup:
+	free(entries);
+}
+
+/*
+ * Return a pointer to the start of the record that contains the
+ * character `*p` (which must be within the buffer). If no other
+ * record start is found, return `buf`.
+ */
+static const char *find_start_of_record(const char *buf, const char *p)
+{
+	while (p > buf && (p[-1] != '\n' || p[0] == '^'))
+		p--;
+	return p;
+}
+
+/*
+ * We want to be able to compare mmapped reference records quickly,
+ * without totally parsing them. We can do so because the records are
+ * LF-terminated, and the refname should start exactly (GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ
+ * + 1) bytes past the beginning of the record.
+ *
+ * But what if the `packed-refs` file contains garbage? We're willing
+ * to tolerate not detecting the problem, as long as we don't produce
+ * totally garbled output (we can't afford to check the integrity of
+ * the whole file during every Git invocation). But we do want to be
+ * sure that we never read past the end of the buffer in memory and
+ * perform an illegal memory access.
+ *
+ * Guarantee that minimum level of safety by verifying that the last
+ * record in the file is LF-terminated, and that it has at least
+ * (GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ + 1) characters before the LF. Die if either of
+ * these checks fails.
+ */
+static void verify_buffer_safe(struct packed_ref_cache *packed_refs)
+{
+	const char *buf = packed_refs->buf + packed_refs->header_len;
+	const char *eof = packed_refs->eof;
+	const char *last_line;
+
+	if (buf == eof)
+		return;
+
+	last_line = find_start_of_record(buf, eof - 1);
+	if (*(eof - 1) != '\n' || eof - last_line < GIT_SHA1_HEXSZ + 2)
+		die_invalid_line(packed_refs->refs->path,
+				 last_line, eof - last_line);
+}
+
 /*
  * Depending on `mmap_strategy`, either mmap or read the contents of
  * the `packed-refs` file into the `packed_refs` instance. Return 1 if
@@ -407,7 +572,6 @@ static int load_contents(struct packed_ref_cache *packed_refs)
 
 	switch (mmap_strategy) {
 	case MMAP_NONE:
-	case MMAP_TEMPORARY:
 		packed_refs->buf = xmalloc(size);
 		bytes_read = read_in_full(fd, packed_refs->buf, size);
 		if (bytes_read < 0 || bytes_read != size)
@@ -415,6 +579,7 @@ static int load_contents(struct packed_ref_cache *packed_refs)
 		packed_refs->eof = packed_refs->buf + size;
 		packed_refs->mmapped = 0;
 		break;
+	case MMAP_TEMPORARY:
 	case MMAP_OK:
 		packed_refs->buf = xmmap(NULL, size, PROT_READ, MAP_PRIVATE, fd, 0);
 		packed_refs->eof = packed_refs->buf + size;
@@ -434,19 +599,19 @@ static int load_contents(struct packed_ref_cache *packed_refs)
  * A comment line of the form "# pack-refs with: " may contain zero or
  * more traits. We interpret the traits as follows:
  *
- *   No traits:
+ *   Neither `peeled` nor `fully-peeled`:
  *
  *      Probably no references are peeled. But if the file contains a
  *      peeled value for a reference, we will use it.
  *
- *   peeled:
+ *   `peeled`:
  *
  *      References under "refs/tags/", if they *can* be peeled, *are*
  *      peeled in this file. References outside of "refs/tags/" are
  *      probably not peeled even if they could have been, but if we find
  *      a peeled value for such a reference we will use it.
  *
- *   fully-peeled:
+ *   `fully-peeled`:
  *
  *      All references in the file that can be peeled are peeled.
  *      Inversely (and this is more important), any references in the
@@ -454,12 +619,17 @@ static int load_contents(struct packed_ref_cache *packed_refs)
  *      trait should typically be written alongside "peeled" for
  *      compatibility with older clients, but we do not require it
  *      (i.e., "peeled" is a no-op if "fully-peeled" is set).
+ *
+ *   `sorted`:
+ *
+ *      The references in this file are known to be sorted by refname.
  */
 static struct packed_ref_cache *read_packed_refs(struct packed_ref_store *refs)
 {
 	struct packed_ref_cache *packed_refs = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*packed_refs));
 	struct ref_dir *dir;
 	struct ref_iterator *iter;
+	int sorted = 0;
 	int ok;
 
 	packed_refs->refs = refs;
@@ -498,6 +668,9 @@ static struct packed_ref_cache *read_packed_refs(struct packed_ref_store *refs)
 			packed_refs->peeled = PEELED_FULLY;
 		else if (unsorted_string_list_has_string(&traits, "peeled"))
 			packed_refs->peeled = PEELED_TAGS;
+
+		sorted = unsorted_string_list_has_string(&traits, "sorted");
+
 		/* perhaps other traits later as well */
 
 		/* The "+ 1" is for the LF character. */
@@ -507,6 +680,34 @@ static struct packed_ref_cache *read_packed_refs(struct packed_ref_store *refs)
 		strbuf_release(&tmp);
 	}
 
+	verify_buffer_safe(packed_refs);
+
+	if (!sorted) {
+		sort_packed_refs(packed_refs);
+
+		/*
+		 * Reordering the records might have moved a short one
+		 * to the end of the buffer, so verify the buffer's
+		 * safety again:
+		 */
+		verify_buffer_safe(packed_refs);
+	}
+
+	if (mmap_strategy != MMAP_OK && packed_refs->mmapped) {
+		/*
+		 * We don't want to leave the file mmapped, so we are
+		 * forced to make a copy now:
+		 */
+		size_t size = packed_refs->eof -
+			(packed_refs->buf + packed_refs->header_len);
+		char *buf_copy = xmalloc(size);
+
+		memcpy(buf_copy, packed_refs->buf + packed_refs->header_len, size);
+		release_packed_ref_buffer(packed_refs);
+		packed_refs->buf = buf_copy;
+		packed_refs->eof = buf_copy + size;
+	}
+
 	dir = get_ref_dir(packed_refs->cache->root);
 	iter = mmapped_ref_iterator_begin(
 			packed_refs,
@@ -810,7 +1011,7 @@ int packed_refs_is_locked(struct ref_store *ref_store)
  * the colon and the trailing space are required.
  */
 static const char PACKED_REFS_HEADER[] =
-	"# pack-refs with: peeled fully-peeled \n";
+	"# pack-refs with: peeled fully-peeled sorted \n";
 
 static int packed_init_db(struct ref_store *ref_store, struct strbuf *err)
 {
-- 
2.14.1
Previous: Michael HaggertyNext: Jeff King
Message 23 of 40 in “Read `packed-refs` using mmap()”
  1. 00/21 Read `packed-refs` using mmap()Michael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  2. 02/21 prefix_ref_iterator: break when we leave the prefixMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  3. Stefan BellerSep 20, 2017
  4. Jeff KingSep 21, 2017
  5. Stefan BellerSep 21, 2017
  6. Michael HaggertySep 21, 2017
  7. 04/21 die_unterminated_line(), die_invalid_line(): new functionsMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  8. 05/21 read_packed_refs(): use mmap to read the `packed-refs` fileMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  9. 08/21 read_packed_refs(): read references with minimal copyingMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  10. Jeff KingSep 20, 2017
  11. Michael HaggertySep 21, 2017
  12. 09/21 packed_ref_cache: remember the file-wide peeling stateMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  13. 10/21 mmapped_ref_iterator: add iterator over a packed-refs fileMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  14. 11/21 mmapped_ref_iterator_advance(): no peeled value for broken refsMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  15. Jeff KingSep 20, 2017
  16. 12/21 packed-backend.c: reorder some definitionsMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  17. 13/21 packed_ref_cache: keep the `packed-refs` file mmapped if possibleMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  18. Michael HaggertySep 19, 2017
  19. Junio C HamanoSep 24, 2017
  20. Jeff KingSep 20, 2017
  21. Jeff KingSep 20, 2017
  22. Michael HaggertySep 21, 2017
  23. 14/21 read_packed_refs(): ensure that references are ordered when readMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  24. Jeff KingSep 20, 2017
  25. Michael HaggertySep 21, 2017
  26. Johannes SchindelinSep 25, 2017
  27. 15/21 packed_ref_iterator_begin(): iterate using `mmapped_ref_iterator`Michael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  28. 18/21 packed_ref_store: get rid of the `ref_cache` entirelyMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  29. 19/21 ref_cache: remove support for storing peeled valuesMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  30. 16/21 packed_read_raw_ref(): read the reference from the mmapped bufferMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  31. 20/21 mmapped_ref_iterator: inline into `packed_ref_iterator`Michael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  32. 21/21 packed-backend.c: rename a bunch of things and update commentsMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  33. 17/21 ref_store: implement `refs_peel_ref()` genericallyMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  34. 06/21 read_packed_refs(): only check for a header at the top of the fileMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  35. 07/21 read_packed_refs(): make parsing of the header line more robustMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  36. 01/21 ref_iterator: keep track of whether the iterator output is orderedMichael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  37. 03/21 packed_ref_cache: add a backlink to the associated `packed_ref_store`Michael Haggerty, Sep 19, 2017
  38. Johannes SchindelinSep 19, 2017
  39. Jeff KingSep 20, 2017
  40. Johannes SchindelinSep 25, 2017

Read the whole thread, see it on lore, or plain text.

$ cat FOOTERMessages come from the public archive at lore.kernel.org/git, fetched every hour. The front page is chosen and written each morning by an AI editor and can be wrong; the threads themselves are the record. About and API. For agents: an MCP server at https://gitlist.dev/mcp, and any thread, story or person page as Markdown by adding .md to its URL (or sending Accept: text/markdown). Details in /llms.txt.